We begin a new series this evening simply entitled “the Christian burden.”
Winston Churhill said, “If we fail to learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.” I see American, the people who make it up, repeating the same path as the Southern Kingdom of Israel. So what can we do about it, and what is coming?

Habakkuk loved his nation, his family, friends, and neighbors. He prayed without ceasing for revival, repentance, and for the entire nation to return to the Lord. However instead of repenting, things just got worse. He watched as anyone who tried to live for the Lord was taken advantage of, and suffered at the hands of those who did not. Those who did not seemed to prosper without any punishment at all. So he cried out, “O LORD, how long will you allow this to continue?”

The LORD answered him, (verse 5) “I the LORD, will work in your days which you wil not believe.”

This sounds good, almost like the LORD is going to do something miraculous to bring the nation back to Himself, and this is exactly what He did. However, what He did was not what was expected or desired.

Verse 6 states: I AM raising up the Babylonians to carry out my justice. This was unexpected and seemingly impossible.
1. Babylon was not a real threat to anyone at this time.
2. Babylon was a group of ruthless people whose violence was so awful, that it shocked armies.

So how does this apply to us?
1. We need to understand that we live in this same type of environment, where wrong is right and right is wrong.
2. It seems as if everyone is living any way they desire too. They are prospering, without any punishment at all.
3. It seems that anyone who tries to follow Jesus, doing what is right is punished.
4. We are praying for revival, a return to our roots, Jesus Chrsit.
5. What we need to understand is that our Lord is working, and what He is doing might baffle us.
6. But we know His plans for us are good and not harm.
7. Our Lord’s task is what He is doing.
8. Our task is to spend time with Him daily, investing in His kingdom, and sharing our story while we have time.

What is coming? I do not know. However, I know we are to focus on Jesus, and not the storms all around us. This all begins with a personal relationship with Jesus, and then a sincere desire to grow in our faith. All of this just so that we might have His peace.