You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet - Ezekiel 8:13

He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.” - Ezekiel 8:13

    The old adage, “I’ve seen it all now,” should never be heard coming from a Christian’s lips. Despite the horrendous nature of our fallen world, we must remember: it could always be worse. No matter how diabolic the world becomes, no matter the persecution, no matter the viciousness of unbelief - it could always be worse! Perhaps the more proper remark should be, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” We need to always remember the words of St. Peter: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8.
    Similarly, among the unbelievers, we hear their groanings declaring ridiculous adages like, “Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell; spiritualism is for those who have already been there.” We must take stock of our lives. No one who is alive today has ever been to hell! But if they keep on believing in adages like the above, they soon will be. Everyone has had their share of worldly problems - everyone. As I said, If they think their lives are full of tribulation now - they haven’t seen anything yet.
    None of us are promised a life of luxury, prosperity, or health while we live. God isn’t concerned about where or how we live; He’s concerned about the state of our souls. Faith in God should be our greatest underlying interest no matter what we face. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” - Philippians 4:11-12. This is the power of faith in God.
    We have to stop our darkened fears and feelings of depression and give them to God. “. . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7.             To think that somehow we have been dealt a ‘bad hand’ by God indicates wrong thinking on our part. It only follows to believe our troubles are aimed directly at us as though we are somehow a target of dark providence. Continued belief in this erroneous thought should bring us to our knees before the Almighty, seeking His forgiveness and His great blessing. To do otherwise will surely bring God’s judgment. It has before and it will again. “And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.” Numbers 11:1.     
    All that our complaints, grousings, and misery will ever add up to is a spiritual depression that envelopes us in ‘the dark night of the soul.’ And there are no pills to treat such depression. The great 20th Century preacher, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said (and I paraphrase) the cause of spiritual depression is our lack of faith in God. Yet when we are approached on the subject we tend to virulently refusal to even consider changing our minds. “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” - Romans 1:28.
    We don’t have to suffer from such despondency; we do have a clear choice - “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” - Galatians 6:7-8. This is the only Spirit! That matters - the Spirit of God.
    No matter what tragedies or tribulations we face, let us remember that it could always be worse. To those who suffer from afflictions in spite of their faith in God, let us remember His ultimate plan for us. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28. No matter how bad things seem to be . . . it could always be worse. And the grace that prevents it from being worse comes from the love, the providence, and the Spirit of the one true God.