We live in a crazy world! Violence, wars, immorality, and much more. The Bible warns us of these times. We should not be surprised by them, but it doesn’t make the world any better—except for the knowledge that it will all end one day. So, the question is, “Where do you put your focus?”
Our affections (the things that we love) determine our focus. The world may be filled with trouble and heartbreak, but that same world is filled with blessings and benefits from God. Joyful Christians are not spared from the hardships of life—they simply choose to focus on the things of God.
The Apostle Paul knew the state of the world and certainly endured more than his share of hardships, but see where he placed his focus:
…the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. (Colossians 3:3-10)