(Meditations & Observations on Ps.72)

I am, I believe, an optimist. I tend to believe that things could be worse and will get better. I am not oblivious to the negative but tend to look for the positive. Having said that, I must admit that this is a dark hour. The leadership of our nation is wicked, and godlessness abounds. The forces of Islam seem to have the momentum, killing Christians and anyone else who may stand in their way. The possibility of violence against Christians in the West, even in the United States, is not remote. The frightening prospect of the church in the West having to go under ground could turn into a reality in the foreseeable future. The overwhelming onslaught of violent Islam might cause one to question whether Christianity will survive.

Meanwhile, in the United States, anti-Christian philosophy and culture are the rule while Biblical Christianity is more and more despised and viewed as radical and out of touch with reality. In post-Christian America, Biblical views are largely considered odd at best and dangerous at worst.

Some may ask, “Will Christianity survive?” We must not glibly answer such a question. But in Psalm 72, we find the truth inspired by God’s Spirit. This Psalm was written for Solomon but looks far beyond his rule in Israel. It is promised of the son of David that, “They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. In His days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace as long as the moon endures. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” (vv.5-8) As great as Solomon’s kingdom was, it never reached these proportions. Only one Son of David could ever be spoken of in this way: The Lord Jesus Christ.

So will Christianity survive? The better question is, “Will Christ cease to reign?” For he does reign. “You have put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him,He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him.” (Heb.2:8) In the words of the hymn; “Jesus shall reign where’re the sun, does its successive journeys run”. He does and He shall forever reign.

I do not know what the earthly future holds. But I do know that Christ reigns, and that as long as He reigns, Christianity will not just survive. It will thrive, and; “the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

In the love of Christ,

Charles Cavanaugh