Total Eclipse of the Heart

Total Eclipse of the Heart

2 Corinthians 4:8&9
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

    No, I am not going to start singing Bonnie Tyler's hit song of the same name.  But, at times, I suffer from a condition I call a spiritual "Total Eclipse of the Heart."  It is the condition where my heart simply is overwhelmed by the tidal wave of bad news, lies, evil, and hopelessness that we see and hear everyday in the world.  I hear or see some new atrocity happening or new disaster strike or new insanity being endorsed by one of our leaders and my heart just can't absorb it.  (Did you hear that school kids are being taught that Easter eggs are now "Spring Spheres?)  The news comes at me so fast and so bad I just can't take any more in.  The shadow of the darkness of this world falls over my heart so thickly it's in a total eclipse.  It becomes hard to see Jesus in the world with so much darkness here.
   And we can't expect things to get better.  The New Testament tells us things will get worse and worse.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude all agree that this world will sink further and further into the cesspool of evil and that in the church there will be a falling away and many will be decieved.  Look around you.  Those misguided souls who think things will get better and better are so wrong they would have to leave the earth to get farther from the truth.
   So what to do?  What about us?  Well, if you read through the epistles, you'll see written there warnings to us to get our act together and to build ourselves up in the faith.  There's a fight ahead of us and we need to be prepared for it.
   And as for the eclipse of the heart, we need to address this.  This is a serious condition, and we can't be effective Christians if we're numb from all the bad news we have to absorb.  When I get an attack of this condition, I have to react to it.
   First I pray that God will give me grace to know that Christ is still in charge and nothing is happening without God's consent.  As hard as it is to believe, this is all working as God has planned and He will bring us through if we place our trust in Him.
   Second I worship Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, amen.  He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power.  Jesus laid down His life for me and redeemed me from sin and overcame the grave and death and lives forever.  I owe Him my allegience.  When I worship Him my mind focuses on Him and off the problems around me.  The answer to what's wrong in America and the world is not the Democrats, the Republicans, Barack Obama, the deficit, or the new upsurge in bedbugs.  It's Jesus.  The problems we face today are not flesh and blood ones, they are spiritual ones.  Worship focuses our minds and our faith is strengthened.
   And then I get ready for battle.  When I'm overwhelmed, I'm most vulnerable to attack.  When I'm feeling like this, its a good time to review the verses about the full armor of God.
Ephesians 6: 10-18 NKJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
   I believe it not a sin to become discouraged.  I believe it is not a sin to be overwhelmed by all that we see and hear.  I believe it is not a sin to want to hide my face and quit.  However, I believe it is a sin to actually quit.  I believe it is a sin to give up trying.  I believe it is a sin to spread doom and gloom.
   Shake it off, O Christian!  Pray and worship and let Jesus lift your head and encourage your heart.  Gird your loins and draw your sword, the battle is raging and you're needed.

Stephen Cram                     April 17, 2011                    Colossians 2:8


Colossians 2:8 NKJV
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.