"Small Fish, Small Ponds"

I'm afraid I have made the mistake of overexposure to the news in recent days. In times of increasing wickedness and insanity, this is a huge mistake.

Of course, I don't mean to suggest that we remain ignorant to the goings on of the world around us. Certainly not. However, too much focus on world, national, state and even local affairs about which we can do nothing may distract us from the immediate responsibilities to which God calls us to attend ourselves with great care and devotion. Indeed, the things I can do in service to God and those for whom He has given me responsibility are the primary issues of life. I believe in being a small fish in a small pond, and in being sure by God's grace to swim effectively in the waters wherein He places us.

Long ago, the Apostle Paul told us that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (II Timothy 3:13). They are, and they will until our Lord returns for His church, and then later establishes His kingdom on earth. Indeed, the world as we presently know it will not continue forever, thank God. "The fashion of this world passeth away" (I Corinthians 7:31). Expecting too much in such a realm is ill-advised, although our Lord does provide, preserve, protect and bless in accordance with His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. We thank God for his present involvement, and do what we can in society as it presently exists. However, born again believers join Abraham and "look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). As Paul commanded, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:2).

My pond and yours require attention in this day. We therefore do well to glance at the world around us in order to maintain necessary awareness and whatever involvement our Lord may lead us to have. However, our gaze is on Him, and on the matters at hand He privileges us to perform for His glory. Great fulfillment, peace and joy await us by attending to the pond wherein the things we can do are easily known and doable. Most importantly, we shall find our Lord there, revealing the magnitude of His glory by His small fish in their small ponds.

"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:that no flesh should glory in His presence."

(I Corinthians 27:29)