The Rev. Clyde Northrop

An email pal of mine wrote expressing deep concern about his fear of the future.

He particularly was worried about our national debt and how he could protect himself and his family. There are many today who have deep concerns about our nation and feel as my friend does.

Others worry about wickedness in our society and malice in individuals around them. Some people agonize over the personal abuses visited on them by others in the community.

I believe it was David in Psalm 11 who also posed worrisome questions.

He acknowledged that the Lord in heaven examines everyone including the wicked and the righteous. He says that God loves righteous deeds and promises that the upright will have the privilege of seeing His face. The God of Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David won’t be fooled by press releases and the hype of mass media.

So David takes comfort that though his lot is rough (and indeed it often was) he can count on God knowing the hearts of individuals. God values people who love their neighbors and treat others well. God also examines the greedy, those who behave abusively, and people who love to use violence to get their way.

Aren’t you glad that you serve a righteous God who sees you exactly as you are? Our Lord can be counted on to be fair in His judgments. Even better than that, we serve the God who sent His son Jesus to be sacrificed for us. Through Him we can be forgiven and made right with the Lord.

Some today say that God is in his heaven and all is right with the world. I prefer to say that Jesus came to earth and made it possible for us to be cleansed and made right with God our Father.