Code Red! How Will You Respond?

CODE-RED!
How Will You Respond?

A red flag flown at the beach means the waves and current are dangerous. A flashing red light means an emergency vehicle is approaching. A code-red alert by the F.B.I. means there is a significant threat to the safety and security of citizens. Red means danger and the need for quick response.

Christians must be prepared to respond to the frequent code-red situations that affect our world. Words like crisis, tragedy, disaster, and emergency seem to be an increasing part of our daily vocabulary. We have come to dread the next breaking news story for fear of what it will bring. Typically, the top news stories deal with terrorism, death and destruction. Newspaper headlines and pictures portray suffering and sorrow. Yet above the sound of screaming sirens, the voices of news reporters and the roar of fighter planes, something else must be heard. It is the message of the gospel, a message of hope and help clearly communicated, a message that says, “In the midst of it all, there is God!”

I believe there are three significant responses that Christians must demonstrate when the “code-red” signals of life start flashing. These responses are Bible-based, but must be personally applied.

1. Be Controlled By God’s Peace
When the storm clouds appear in our lives, we need to seek refuge in God. He never promised that a Christian’s life would be trouble-free. However, He has promised His presence to help in the trouble (Ps. 9:9). Isaiah said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee” (Isa. 26:3) Peace is a calmness of heart and mind, knowing that God is in control. We can remain calm when we recognize the presence of God (Ps. 46:1-3), the power of God (Ps. 86:10), and the protection of God (Ps. 91:1-6). Nothing can touch the life of a child of God without His full knowledge and complete control. When everything is falling apart, we can keep ourselves together by living in total dependence on a God who cares for us no matter what may come.

2. Be Consistent In Prayer
It is amazing how trouble makes us aware of the need for God. Students are not permitted to pray in our schools until there is a shooting. Politicians do not care to pray in our capitol until our nation is attacked by terrorists. Even Christians are not faithful to prayer meetings until they lose a job, become ill, or have a family crisis. Trouble is a wake-up call to remind us how much we need God. For that reason we need to seek God more intensely asking for what only He can do. The Psalmist wrote, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble” (Ps. 31:9). He also cried, “Give help from trouble, for vain is the help of man” (Ps. 60:11). His testimony was, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord” (Ps. 77:2). In time of trouble, individual prayer, family prayer, and church prayer meetings connect the inability of man to the ability of a great God!

3. Be Conscious Of Potential
I once heard an evangelist say, “Life is an opportunity to prepare to meet God.” In times of trouble, Christians must seize the opportunity to represent God. What a tragedy, when the world gets desperate for the God, but the Church doesn’t. Savorless salt and hidden lights are useless in a society in the decay and darkness of sin (Mt. 5:11-16). The great need during crisis is for outspoken witnesses who unashamedly tell the world that they are Christian. When the going gets tough, people don’t run to the bank, the mall, or the ball field; they look to the Church. Could it be that God wants to bring in a harvest of souls in time of great trouble? The Church better be prepared to meet the need with the gospel.

In the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You,” Civilla Martin wrote:

Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you. Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you. God will take care of you, Through every day,O’er all the way, He will take care of you – God will take care of you.

In a code-red alert, people have to know who to trust and what to do. How we respond will show them the way.

By Tom Palmer