◄ What Does Luke 2:1 Mean? ►

No matter where we are in the timeline of history and regardless of our geographical location, we know with certainty that God is in control. No matter what our personal situation may be and irrespective of the evil and madness that is permeating the nations today, we have an assurance that God will use all things that affect our lives, and the nations of the world, whether they are good or evil, to forward His perfect plans and purposes for our eternal benefit and for His ultimate glory.

This was the situation that faced the heavily pregnant Mary and her espoused husband Joseph in the little town of Nazareth which, like all the cities of Judea, was under the heavy yoke of their Roman overlords. Israel's Messiah was to be born in the city of David for thus it was prophesied: "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people, Israel."

And so in order for God's Word to come to pass: "There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." The fierce Roman dictators, who were cruelly oppressing the people of Israel, were used of God to forward His plans and purposes. Rome's motive may have been to tighten their iron-grip over the subjugated people of God and Caesar's greedy motivation may have been to extract additional, crippling taxes from the downtrodden masses under his control, but the outcome was the forwarding of God's perfect plans and glorious purpose for our eternal benefit and for His ultimate glory.

Today, shocking laws that mock God's ultimate authority are being passed indiscriminately in the corridors of power and the courtrooms of many despotic nations. But God is not mocked and will use every evil intent to forward His perfect plans so as to finally achieve His eternal purpose; that Christ is all in all.

Today, many shocking atrocities are being perpetrated against the lives of the innocent victims by satanically motivated, evil men. In addition, God's chosen nation of Israel and the true Church of God are being systematically targeted and persecuted by a God-hating, Christ-rejecting sinful world, with the ultimate intent of eliminating the people of God.

Today, there are those that have infiltrated Christendom with the demonically inspired intent to corrupt the Christian Church from within with a plethora of false teachings, an explosion of doctrines of demons, a forbidden peep into the illuminating gnostic mysteries of Satan, and an explosive number of extra-biblical prophecies, dreams, visions, and experiences that disregard the Word of truth and deny the Lord Who bought them. But God is not mocked, and just as the decree from Caesar Augustus was used of God to fulfil His prophetically inspired Word of Truth, we may be assured that everything that is happening in the world today is moving towards the fulfilment of God's perfect plan and ultimate purpose. And God's prefect decree is for our eternal benefit and for His ultimate glory.

All praise to His name.

Heavenly Father, thank You that, just as in the times of Mary and Joseph, Your plans and purposes for mankind cannot be thwarted by Satan’s evil manipulation, nor obstructed by the work of evil men and their corrupt governments. And even through today, the nations conspire against Your people (Israel), rage against Your Body (the Church), and seek to break free from God’s ultimate, sovereign authority, I praise and thank You that You remain in ultimate control, and that the day is coming when You will break the nations with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like pottery. Until then, I pray that You will use me to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN.