No hiding, Just thriving

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

NO HIDING, JUST THRIVING

Prov 28:28

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

NIV

We have certainly seen this truth bore out in the past, both far and near as well even in our present day. The Jewish people have needed to go into hiding more than once in their history as a people of God. The most recent was during the wicked reign of Adolf Hitler in Germany. If they were not able to hide they were exterminated. Christianity has had its moments in history as well of needing to go into hiding during the reign of wicked kings or emperors. But are we subject to this truth today? In some countries is would seem Christians still need to hide in order not to be murdered or tortured for their faith. Yet in our country, according to our principles established in our constitution and further amendments we enjoy the freedom of religion, to be able to worship whoever, however we chose. Of course there is some truth in the fact that we are not totally free to express our faith in the Almighty God as openly as we once did. There has been and still are some people in power who would suppress the Christian faith in favor of humanism. It may not be that we actually need to hide in caves or withhold showing ourselves in public, but we may be subject to some form of persecution at times. Certain employers forbid sharing our faith in the work place. Some communities’ leaders have signed laws forbidding the public expression of Christianity during the Christmas season by keeping the public square free of any manger scenes. Humanism is an enemy of our faith which tries to put us in hiding. We are certainly able to gather in our places of worship, but then there are people who hate so much that in recent days they have entered shooting everyone they can. The wicked always hate the people of faith, maybe not openly, but surely in their heart. When we truly have a free and open sociality, the righteous will be able to thrive. Although we have seen the righteous thrive even under suppression governments, such as in China. The church is alive and well, although is exists underground, in hiding. We too can thrive in whatever setting we live in. Believers are able, if nothing more than in their spirits, thrive because of the Spirit who dwells within them. We can all thrive no matter the worldly circumstances we live in, because we have a just and righteous God in power of our lives. Can we experience hardships because of the wicked in power? Are they truly in power, or are they simply tools of God to bring about spiritual growth in his people? It would seem that was the case of Israel in the past. Maybe that is the case for all believers in all times. Does hardship increase our faith or destroy it? Why should we ever decide to hide? Let us live our faith out loud, taking whatever comes our way, standing firm against any of the attacks of the first wicked power in this world, the serpent, the devil, Satan himself. Let us take our stand against the forces of evil, of the wicked. No hiding, just thriving.