“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” – Psalm 56:4
Where do we find the phrase, “In God we trust.”?
If you said U.S. money, you are correct. It’s actually a pretty amazing thing. Historically, it was the king or career who was praised on the money.
In fact, many national leaders over the course of history have claimed to be God (or a god). The Pharaohs of Egypt and many of the Caesars of Rome claimed to be gods and demanded the worship of their citizens.
In Rome, it was known as Caesar Worship and for the Caesars who practiced it, they required all people in the Roman empire to worship them under threat of death. Can you imagine being a Christian during this time? Many Christians were killed for refusing.
“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
According to a letter from Smyrna, these were the (translated) words of Polycarp, one of the church fathers who was a disciple of the Apostle John. In his 80s, he was arrested and brought into an arena. The Roman Proconsul actually seemed to want to save Polycarp’s life and pleaded with him to just swear by Caesar and be released. He refused.
The Proconsul then threatened to burn Polycarp at the stake. Polycarp responded,
“You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly.”
According to this account, Polycarp understood what David wrote about centuries before in Psalm 56. It is in God we trust, for God is greater and God is faithful.
Yes, the tyrants of this world may hurt or imprison or even kill us, but they are not greater than the one who overcame death. They cannot threaten with something greater than eternal condemnation nor can their threats overrule the one who offers eternal life.
So, let us trust the Lord in all circumstances, good or bad. He is greater. He is faithful. We have nothing to fear.
Heavenly Father,
Hold me firmly in the faith. Help me to endure even in the face of threat and harm. May I trust in You no matter what.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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