It's now well into November as the conclusion of year 2002 is drawing near.  George Bush wants a controlled, decisive war in the Middle East.  This common ploy is again working as an effective smoke screen while draconian measures are being implemented back home, where liberty is being abandoned for the assurance of security, and peoples minds are re focused on the upbeat media hype of a domestic biological or chemical terrorist threat (it must be imminent - as was something like 911).

Presently this timely scenario is being helped along by the capture of the phantom sniper who was running loose, terrorizing the populace around Dominion Capital, being boosted by the recent indiscriminate bombing of Western tourists on the destination "paradise" of Bali, the back door of one of Uncle Sam's chief allies ...  Australia.  Even bringing home the dilemma of the situation to New Zealand (my place of abode), as fellow Kiwis were killed by the ruthless method of so-called Militant Muslims, out to revenge the West for it's incursion of corruption into Islamic States.  The chief suspects being Indonesia's radical Islamic groups who accuse the US of engineering it as a pretext for their war.  Also, Russia is kept busy on her war with terror as hundreds are taken hostage in a Moscow theatre, leaving no hindrance to her one time chief opponent the USA, on it's own apparent war on terror.

There is much more going on behind the scenes than what the eye is led to believe, from our newspapers to the six o'clock televised news. Like always, there is a hidden agenda with a sting on the end of its tail.  However, God is still reigning in Heaven, and always will be.  The good news is ...  2 Chronicles 16:9:

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

God is preparing His people as they engage in a different war, which has already been decided at Calvary.  This war is not fought with human hands, or with the methodologies of man, but in the heavenlies, as the true saints of God learn to be overcomers by staying true to the heavenly vision, and standing on the promises of God.  Trouble is ...  many who name the name of Christ are caught up in the world's preoccupation of fun and games from the front of politicking, to the folly and false devotion of what is known as patriotism.  Very much in the same league as loyalty to a man-made denomination.

It has been very encouraging of late as I hear from fellow believers from all over the globe, who are abandoning the grip of the priesthood elite and are finding Jesus without the rigmarole of human proxies and invented religious alternatives.  God is raising up an accompaniment of free thinkers in these last days who are beginning to realize that resistance is not rebellion, but vital in the good fight against the hosts of darkness.  Many are learning that revelation comes direct, and the truth does not have to filter down through a hierarchical structure, or be taught from a professional platform, when the time is right.  This remnant will be the real threat to the global web that is being sown to enslave the world's masses.  Those that have not received a love for the truth will be deluded and trapped, as God draws a line in the sand.  The true lambs of God will be discredited as a hindrance to world progress and peace. This is why the framework is already falling into place lumping true bible believers together with right wing extremists and the most vile practitioners (2 Peter 2:2):

"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

God's remedy (1 Cor. 4:12):

"And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:"

Who wants that?  No one really!   However, those who would hear the voice of their master and follow, would be the ones who would endure.

A scripture which reminded me the other day was Psalm 31:19:

"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!"

The goodness of God is only found in trust and fear!  Many today promote the goodness and love of God, but few reveal the New Testament God who smote Herod (the king), Ananias and Sapphira (fellow believers), and struck down Barjesus with blindness. There is indeed a just balance between godly fear and godly trust, and the two must remain married together in our walk with Jesus.

Many are too over confident with their religion and would claim faith and trust as taking hold of the world's riches and niceties as their inheritance in Christ.  The hyper faith doctrine and the "blab it and grab it" notion is far more entrenched in Christendom that what one might imagine, which redirects the deceived believer's attention to the blessing and not the Blesser.

Others would take out the innocent, glorifying suicide as their ticket to paradise and eternal pleasures.  However, trust in God is not presumption, or a haughty confidence for that matter, in a God who acts on our most “noble” sacrifice and service.  Secondly, remember Cain, and King Saul?  God is sovereign and will act because He is God before anything else.  This is why trust must be coupled with fear, which is the beginning of wisdom.  Fear of Him that is!  Knowing He is a jealous God and a consuming fire.  Which means we'd better get in His will than be found outside of it.

This godly fear however, is nothing to do with intimidation.  Fear without trust is!  The fear of God is knowing whilst God is full of tender mercies He is also hard towards the froward, and will not always strive with man or turn a blind eye.

Ps. 33:18.  "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy".

This is why we can serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  A very sound and healthy place to be in.  The scriptures also say  as Pro. 8:13:

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy".

We are in perilous times.  There will be wars and rumours of war.  Nation will rise up against nation as kings will be raised up and brought down.  There will be pestilence, earthquakes and confusion, as the thief (that's not George, or Saddam, or Ben, by the way) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.  That's what the true remnant need, and need to be seeking after ...  the blessing of God!  For without Him, we can do nothing!