By Ben Cox

I‘m alone in my office writing this article on June 9, 2022 as the last thing that needs to happen before we send this edition to the printer. It’s important for you to know the date that I’m writing this article for several reasons. 

One is, that it’s increasingly evident that we’re on the verge of total anarchy in our nation because our governing authorities seem helpless to do anything to protect its citizens from evil. Our whole political system seems hopelessly broken because many of our leaders, in both parties, are corrupted by the love of money. Our idolatrous cultural pursuits of our own pleasures and comforts have fostered a “my will be done” stubbornness no matter what God’s higher ways could teach us if we’d have ears to hear. However, this would require humility and a willingness to repent and change when needed. That seems to be in short supply in our land.  

The second reason it’s important for you to know is because the stories we’ve told in this magazine for over 15 years are all about how God’s light and love can shine into the deepest darkness of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then, we can be used by God to bring His light and love and wisdom into a world that desperately needs it. 

Through the website we created right before COVID hit in 2020, you can read every story we’ve written since 2007 (at journeync.com.) And now, we’re excited to announce that you can also view interviews that accompany some of our stories, with many more to come in the future as the Lord leads. These video interviews will help you understand and appreciate the people who share their testimonies in a deeper way. 

The third reason it’s important for you to know the date I’m writing this is because, since we first started hearing about COVID in February 2020, the changes that have rocked our world and our nation on every front are escalating at a frightening pace. Who would have guessed the toll this pandemic would have on the whole world? And that it’s still a major thing going into year three? 

In light of all this, paired with the political, religious and cultural upheavals we’re seeing, along with the breath-taking natural disasters in our nation and world, and now the debacle in Ukraine, I have two questions for us to consider.

1. What are we, as God’s people, to think about what’s happening in our nation and world? 

2. And, more importantly, how are we to live in light of all this? 

What are we to think? 

This is a unique time in world history where an intense transition is taking place. Though anarchy and chaos are on the rise, those of us who know the Lord can rest in the assurance that God’s Sovereign hand is at work over the affairs of men and nations. 

And for us, as God’s people, I believe He’s bringing strong discipline to our lives to align us with His purposes for what’s yet to come. 

You see, in spite of the heinous loss of lives and the pain and suffering that we humans have always inflicted upon each other, I believe that our Lord, who “knit each of us together in our mother’s wombs” has a good, redemptive plan in all the shaking we’re seeing. 

In spite of rising demonic activity being manifest in the affairs of humans in our nation and throughout the world, I believe that our Savior and Messiah Jesus, is NOT sleeping! Many in His Church may be sleeping, but He’s not. He’s moving by His Spirit to awaken everyone who proclaims Jesus as Lord to join Him in His sovereign plan and purpose for the nations. 

As we approach the last days, the Holy Scriptures tell us there will be a great falling away AND a great ingathering before Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. Therefore, I also believe, in the midst of the chaos, God is going to unleash revival and spiritual awakening in the world like we’ve never seen in our lifetimes. 

Will our nation experience revival and spiritual awakening that can stem the tide of evil, which is rising at an alarming rate, or is God’s judgment imminent? Have we passed the point of no return? What about our region, our state, the High Country? 

I don’t know, but I do know that if God could bring repentance to Nineveh, which was so despicable that Jonah did not want to go there, He can do it for us. So I’m praying, along with many of you, for God to send revival and spiritual awakening in the NC High Country, and that it will spread in such a way that no one but the Lord Himself can take credit for it. If we’re sincere about that, we can draw a circle around ourselves and pray for revival and spiritual awakening to come in that circle and spread in concentric circles. 

In light of this, I would like to consider two prophetic passages that should help us think right and align our thoughts and thus our actions with God’s. 

The first is found in Isaiah 55: 8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

 The second is found in Psalm 2: “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.’  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.’ “  I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.’ “ 

If we’re to think right, we must learn to view everything through the lens of Jesus. So, let’s take some time to think about Jesus and meditate on who He is. 

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as  “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). And the Apostle John referred to Him in Rev. 13:8 as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  The Apostle Peter described Jesus as “chosen before the creation of the world foreordained before the foundation of the world.”  With that and Psalm 2 in mind, let’s read the full context of 1 Peter 1:13-21  to transition from how we think to how it should affect the way we live!

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 

“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” 

To put this back into context of how we, as God’s people, should think and act in relation to the chaos that’s rising in the world today, let me remind you that the Bible, is also a history book. In it we’re reminded of many intense times in the history of God’s chosen people where He brings discipline to them out of chaos to get them back into proper alignment.

Though our Sovereign Lord and Creator, looks with compassion on a suffering world, His ultimate purpose is to purchase from every tribe, tongue and nation a people for His Kingdom that will live in righteous submission to His holy and just and loving rule!! And He wants those of us who know this to GET ON WITH HIS BUSINESS of helping to populate His eternal heavenly Kingdom. 

Many times, when God deals with His people, He teaches us  to separate the holy from the profane. This causes that sense for the sacred to be a governor to our souls. We must remember that, as God’s people, we are to “be in the world but not of the world” as Jesus prayed for us in John 17: 14-19. 

I believe that the shaking in our nation has revealed a lot about the worldliness, shallowness, immaturity, and insecurity of the church. From my perspective, many Christians spend more time on social media and news outlets than they do in reading the Bible for themselves and praying with their families and other believers. Besides this, many Christians spend time listening to and promoting the teachings of false prophets and teachers that are not in harmony with God’s Word. As a result of that, and our infatuation with leaders who sound convincing, but have a shallow understanding of God’s word and Holy Spirit, many people are being deceived to buy into a Christian nationalism that is not in harmony with our King or Kingdom.

For a while now, God has been reminding me that I must get the log out of my own eyes before I can see clearly and help others get the splinters out of their eyes. I want you to understand that I am not saying these things from a high place of having my act together, but from a low place and a season of continual, liberating repentance. The firm but gentle hand of the Lord is bringing lots of things to my attention about my own character, disposition and habits that need to align with the Lord’s holy purposes for my life. 

In closing, as we have been considering how we as God’s people are to think and live in light of these times, let me summarize: 

● We are to acknowledge that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours and humbly seek to align our thoughts and wills with His by spending time studying His Word and praying with other believers. 

● We are to walk in holy reverence and awe of God. 

● We are to be in the world but not of the world by discerning what’s holy and what’s profane, and by making sure we “save ourselves from this corrupt generation.” 

● At this point, it would be good to highlight something I did not specifically mention but is extremely important as we emerge from the isolation that we experienced due to COVID: Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

● Finally, we must do an honest spiritual inventory of our lives to consider what we spend our money on, what we spend our time doing, and how we can be intentional about gearing our lives to spread God’s love and light in our personal spheres of influence. Rather than reacting to the culture, we must seek to influence the culture in righteous, powerful and courageous ways, as the Holy Spirit leads us both individually and corporately. That’s going to mean different things for different people, but the point is we’re meant to do more than just offer thoughts and prayers. We’re meant to be salt and light in the world to bring glory to the Lord.

Introduction to The Journey

Please join me in rejoicing over how God puts these stories together to reveal His Glory. In this edition, three of these stories take me down memory lane to the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, when I was in full-time pastoral ministry.

I remember Don Cox in 1990 as a newly saved, “on fire” college student who sometimes brought his youth group to our church. All of us Boonies know him as the Bald Guy Brew guy, but I bet most of you never knew he was once an Anglican priest. Then there’s Carolyn Clement, who also visited our church back in the day. She went to the same church Don Cox did and was instrumental in steering him to his call to Anglican ministry. Also in this edition is Maggie Watts, whose parents were an integral part of our church from 1988 to 1998. Maggie has also been hired as a journalism intern for our company. Maggie’s testimony was a big part of the reason I hired her. 

Besides their inspirational stories, I’m also thrilled that we were able to connect with Dr. Cameron Current and his wife, Judy, who I have known for years in the Ashe County business community. And, finally, there’s Deanna Ballard, who I have grown to have the utmost respect for as I’ve gotten to know her through her powerful story. Both the Currents and Deanna’s stories are augmented by video interviews that you can view on our website (journeync.com) after the magazine is published. 

As we move forward into the rest of 2022, my prayer for us all is that we will come to know the love of Christ and His Presence, Peace and Provision in deeper ways than ever before.