Peter said, “[We] are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5, NKJV). I see in this a prophecy that in these last days God is once more going to reveal his keeping power to his people.
Old Testament saints knew God in a way we know very little about. They knew him as the Lord of hosts! God is referred to by this name more than 200 times in the Old Testament. This majestic title resonates throughout the psalms.
- “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:7, NKJV).
- “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like you, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds you” (Psalm 89:8).
- “Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer” (Psalm 84:8).
A thrilling Old Testament story in 2 King 6 best illustrates what it means to be kept by the power of God. Ben-hadad, king of Syria, declared war on Israel and marched against them with a great army. As his forces advanced, he often called his war counsel together to plan the next day's strategy. However, the prophet Elisha kept sending word to the king of Israel, detailing every move of the enemy troops. In fact, on several occasions, the Israelites escaped defeat because of Elisha's warnings.
David tells us in the psalms that it is God who makes wars to end and adds, “Be still and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV). The Hebrew word for ‘still’ is raphah, which means to cease, let alone, become weak, feeble. It is from the root rapha, which means to mend and be made thoroughly whole by the hand of a physician.
God's ultimate goal for all his children is abundant life. He never intended for us to go through life focused on our sins and failures. The good news is that we serve a God of absolute love and mercy who desires to bring his children into a place high above all turmoil. However, we cannot take our place with Christ in the heavenlies until we are fully identified with his death and resurrection.
To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29, NKJV). Those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer are blessed! We are favored of God when we trust beyond hope when every possibility has been exhausted.
Our failures constantly test us. I do not mean that Christians who fall back into old sins and turn back to the world are being tested. No, those believers face a shipwreck of faith. I am talking about believers who are growing in holiness and are set on following the Lord. Peter gave them a warning: “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:17 NKJV).
Nothing honors God more than trusting him in the face of difficulties. How quickly we forget the miracles and past blessings. In Psalm 106, Israel testified about the incredible miracle as the Red Sea caved in upon the Egyptian army, drowning every soldier. “The waters covered their enemies; there was not one of them left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise” (Psalm 106:11-12, NKJV). Sadly, the next words that follow are “They soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel” (Psalm 106:13).
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19, NKJV).
The anchor referred to in this passage of scripture is hope. It is not the hope of this wicked world but rather the hope founded on God’s oath to keep, bless and govern those who trust him. It is a hope that moves us past the veil, which represents our shallow faith, into walking confidently in Christ.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV).
If you were to ask me what is happening in the world right now, I would answer, “Everything Jesus warned us would happen in the last days!” He foretold that men’s hearts would fail them for fear of what is happening on earth. He warned of earthquakes in various places, nation rising against nation and ethnic group against ethnic group. We have lived to see the beginning of all the end-time prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes.