Day Zero
Everyday in South Africa we see and read about day zero, the day when the Cape Town taps will run dry, the day when there will be no more water left. The story about day zero has now also been published all over the world, especially since Cape Town will be the first major city in the world to run out of water.
Me and my wife live in Cape Town, so we know exactly how serious the water shortage is and we see how this is affecting people. We also see how thousands of people have gone into panic mode, stocking up on water. I see daily on Facebook how much the people of Cape Town panic, fighting, pointing fingers and even cursing each other.
This made me think about how many people experience “day zero” in their personal lives every day. How many people face financial challenges, where they simply do not know how they are going to survive the month, if they are going to be able to afford rent or where they are going to get money from for food. Many others are facing health challenges and worry if they are going to still be alive in a month or two. All these and many other challenges make us face a lot of “day zero’s” in our lives.
As I am thinking about this, Luke 12:25 comes to mind: Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life]? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? You see dear brother and sister in Christ, many times in life we will face a “day zero” and many times it will be out of our control. When things are not in our control, worrying about it, will not change a thing.
Instead of worrying, instead of panicking, rather apply Philippians 4:6 to the situation: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I want to take this a step further. So many people in Cape Town follow Jesus, but many of these are part of those who panic, and I have heard them say that they do believe it will rain, but then again, their actions prove otherwise.
Again, the same apply to your own personal “day zero’s”. How can we say we believe and trust God for our breakthrough, but then our actions does not correspond with our faith? James 2:17 reads: Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Our actions need to be in line with our faith, otherwise it is useless. I cannot pray for rain and say I believe, I trust in God to provide, but then I spend thousands on water to stock up for when day zero arrives. Where is faith in that?
If we trust the Lord to provide in our lives, then we need to believe, even if we do not yet see. Isn’t that what faith is all about? If we do not see results right away, it doesn’t mean its not happening, it doesn’t mean Jesus is not busy to make a way where there is no way. Hebrew 11:1 reads: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, even if we do reach day zero, both in Cape Town or in our own lives, Jesus will not leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5)! Jesus will always be by your side and He will bring you through it.
I believe that no matter what happens, Jesus WILL take care of me and He will make a way where there is no way. I am His child, I know He loves me and I know He will not forsake me. I choose to trust Him with all my heart and all my soul.
How many times did the Israelites lost faith in God, even though God NEVER left them alone, and the worse of it all is that we still do this today. How many times do Jesus come through for us, but then just the next time we go into panic mode. We so easily forget what Jesus did for us before and what He did before, He will do again and again and again.
There is a saying that says, “don’t forget in the dark what God promised you in the light”, but today I want to tell you there are no darkness at all, there is only an absence of light and that happens when we lose faith. Let us stop allowing the light to fade away and let us keep faith, faith with action.
I end with this. There is only one day zero us humans need to panic about and that is the day when Jesus returns, that is the real day zero, and that day, if you not in a personal relationship with Jesus, will be the end for you. If you want to learn more about Jesus or accept Him into your life, click here now! If you are already in a personal relationship with Jesus, then even THIS day zero is nothing to worry about, since this will then only be day one of the rest of your eternal life.
Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
God bless you,
Jaco van As