Shifting and Sifting

 

A person that is generally very optimistic said to me, “I don’t think I know how to be optimistic anymore.” The attitude of our current environment is so cynical that people can’t tell the difference between realism and pessimism. Our concerns as human beings are usually divided into three tiers. The closest tier is the issues that concern the relationships and people we hold dear, such as family and friends. The second tier is a little further out, consisting of various communities that we support and are involved in, like our faith communities and work. The third tier is even further out, and its mainly those issues affecting our systems of government and the world at large. Many people are experiencing issues and witnessing unprecedented dysfunction in all these tiers. They feel deluged and overwhelmed by negativity, and they’re not feeling confident any of these issues can be resolved. God knew such a time as this would exist. He made it clear to us in His Word that the world can’t solve its problems. Its why He’s told us under no uncertain terms that Jesus Christ is the answer we desperately need.

There is no doubt that a shifting and sifting are occurring. We are experiencing the pressure and fall-out of the two. We sometimes forget the lesson that Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 12:35-37(NLT), “35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Society, and some biblical scholars as well, have tried to complicate this very simple truth, but try as they might, they can’t alter the reality that what we produce tells the story about who we are and the Kingdom we serve. One day, God will judge us accordingly.

The shifting

Nothing happens in the natural without it first occurring in the supernatural. The elevated and intensifying upheaval we’re experiencing in the earth is proof that something is shifting. It’s making room for an elevated spiritual reality. Whenever higher ground and elevated blessings are on the way, darkness must be exposed, and in our current environment, we’re seeing this happen in an unprecedented way. People are no longer hiding their various forms of devilish dysfunction and division as they once did. Society’s current abdication of truth and Godliness is giving them license to parade it proudly.

What this means for the true disciples of Christ is that the arrogance and pride that is perpetuated by darkness must be countered with the light perpetuated by God’s love. 1Thessalonians 5:5(NLT) tells us, “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night.” God tells us that we must be on our guard and not walk around like we’re asleep. He commands us in 1Thessalonians 5:6 to stay alert and clearheaded. This means that we can’t panic as we see others doing, and we can’t add to the rampant negativity we see. Instead, Heavenly Father instructs us in 1Thessalonians 5:11(NLT), “So encourage each other and build each other up.” This is what God requires us to do in order to remain anchored in His goodness while so many run in the opposite direction. As things continue to shift and seemingly become more challenging, we must pray continually, cling to God like never before, love one another, and most importantly, remain confident in His love.

The sifting

Most will not heed the Father’s call to walk in His love through Christ during this season of uncertainty. Some will be so blinded and hoodwinked by satan that they will do evil and call it good. Others will acquiesce under the pressure and think they can protect themselves by building walls of neutrality. There is no ‘in between’ when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Redeemer said in Matthew 6:24 that we can’t serve two masters. We’ll love one and hate the other, but we can’t think that God’s truth will support the gray area that many are clinging to. It is a grave mistake to think we will be safe by not choosing God and walking in faith the way He has told us to. This is the reckoning hour, and the sifting is very real.

The action of sifting is done to separate and remove that which is not useful or valuable. When it comes to our lives on earth, the sifting process is not a pleasant one. Jesus Christ told Peter in Luke 22:31-32 (NLT), “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter had some habit patterns that got him into hot water sometimes. He was quick to speak and slow to listen, and he wasn’t known for being patient either. One can imagine that it was on the grounds of his lack of self-control that satan had asked Heavenly Father for permission to sift Peter like wheat.

In the Old Testament Book of Job, we can learn a little bit about what the devil had in mind, because he asked God for permission to sift Job and boy did Job take a beating. In the end, God restored Job to a place and position that exceeded his former glory, but before that happened, he really went through it. This, and much more, was the devil’s aim for Peter, but our Master Jesus prayed for Peter. And what was his prayer? It was that Peter’s faith would not fail.

It should not be lost on us that the devil’s aim in sifting the people of God is to separate them from the Lord. It is to destroy our trust in God so that our relationship with Him is harmed. We saw the catastrophic results when Adam and Eve abandoned their faith in God, and we must know that the devil is still using the same trickery. It’s to get us so distracted by our desires and by the things of the world that we take our eyes off God. We must not allow satan to sow seeds of doubt in our minds and hearts. Now is the time to prove our love and faith in God. He has equipped us through Jesus Christ, and we must stand firm in His grace, and keep a strong grip on God’s Word.■  

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. 

“Shifting and Sifting”, by written for Christian Encouragement and Inspiration© 2022. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.