My title for this devotion is God’s Protection vs God’s Abandonment.

(This goes along with my thoughts from March 6). Down through the years and maybe even more so now, it has not been uncommon to hear a lot of doom and gloom about the church.

• “The church is following the world right to hell.”
• “Soon the church will be no more.”
• “The church has lost and will continue to lose its influence in the world.”
• “If the church keeps going the way it is, it will soon disappear from the face of the earth.”

Those are just some of the doom and gloom “prophecies” made about the church. It’s also easy to get sucked into that abyss. To hear some talk today the church will be erased from existence in a short time. While I seriously question the motives of anyone saying that (can you say, “Show me your money”?), I can also say with profound conviction it is not true. The church will never-N.E.V.E.R.- cease to exist. Why? Because of a promise made by its founder in an exchange with His students. “And the gates of hell will never prevail against it.” Those were His words.

Down through the years God has protected His people. Irregardless of the promise to the people of Israel (which He has and will keep), the church will always be around. There will always be a remnant. He protected it in its early days. He protected it through one of its greatest persecutors, who was eventually converted on the road to Damascus and became one of its staunchest defenders. He kept a remnant through the corruption of the papacy; through the devastating cults and false religions; through wars; through intense persecution which came through Communism and other social diseases; through martyrdom; through liberalism; through compromising the truth; through apathy; and today through efforts to wipe it and its influence off the map.

Plain and simple: Despite all the doom and gloom “prophecies,” the church never has been and never will be destroyed. God will always protect a remnant. Its in the Book: “the gates of hell will not prevail.” I’m not saying it won’t get tougher. There is no doubt efforts are being made to tear down the church and wipe out its influence, but God never goes back on a promise. I repeat: there will always be a remnant. Always has been; always will be.

“Father, I thank you for the church. And I thank you it will always be. Thank you for calling me to you and including me in your family-the church.”