April 2, 2025

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

Anchored to an Everlasting Love

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jer. 31:3).

It is a simple truth you almost need to forget and then return to anew to fully grasp its magnitude: The all-powerful God of the universe loves you passionately and unceasingly!

Wow! Let’s reset the table here a bit and work our way back to that truth . . .

You live in a world of disorder. It is patently obvious to anyone paying attention, and in fact, if you take God at His word, you don’t even need to be paying attention to know it. “In this world you will have trouble” (Jn. 16:3). It is hard to say it more plainly. The circumstances of your world will throw you off course. You will have every reason to be disoriented and discouraged.

And yet, you are invited to be secure and awash in God’s presence and love.

First, secure. Perhaps my favorite articulation of this truth is Hebrews 6:19, which describes our hope in Jesus as “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” I love that description because it in one breath concedes the volatility of this world that requires an anchoring while conclusively determining a conquering of that volatility by way of an immovable power! You, my friend, should have hope, because your soul is anchored not to the movable things of this world, but to the rock of Jesus Christ.

Next, from that place of security, you are invited to experience the great love of God! We talk a lot in these conversations within The Equipped family about the truth that you were created for the purpose of glorifying and praising God (Is. 43:21). But that amazing truth—it is all for His glory and His glory alone—does not mean it is a one-sided relationship. Far from it! God created you for Himself, and His goodness and love are designed to chase after you all the days of your life (Pr. 23:6)! You are not simply secure; You are adored and pursued by a passionate God!

That brings us full circle. How are you—a created being loved by the Creator with a passionate and everlasting love—to make sense of a world that is in an increasing state of disorder? In many ways, the answer is that this world as you know it is not designed to make sense and be at perfect peace with your soul. You were created and designed for an eternal kingdom (Philip. 3:20-21), and the One who loves you with an everlasting love is drawing you by kindness into that security.

You should not, however, make the mistake of concluding your time here on Earth is meaningless, or that your interaction with the happenings of this temporary place are insignificant. In fact, the exact opposite is true! Your God not only loves you with an everlasting love and is actively drawing you by kindness unto Himself but has in fact also commissioned you for the very purpose of drawing others out of the disorder of the present world and into the security for which they too were created (Matt. 28:18-20).

So when you find trouble this week, remember: God loves you with an everlasting love, and as a result your soul can be anchored, firm and secure!

U.S.

Liberation or Trade War?

U.S. President Donald Trump is announcing another round of tariffs Wednesday. The new tariffs follow previous levies on steel and aluminum, as well as imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, and are now expected to include a 25% tariff on all imported cars and light trucks (pickups). The measures are also expected to include reciprocal tariffs on countries with tariffs in place for goods imported from the U.S.

Analysis and eternal perspective: While the issue of tariffs is important on substance, the primary reason this story leads The Equipped this week is because it is nigh impossible to find coverage of it that is not largely an opinion piece. As we often discuss here, opinions (and even public disagreements) about important civic issues are a hallmark of a free society, and essential for the preservation of it. That said, it can be extremely difficult to inform yourself and come to an educated opinion when it is difficult to find any opinion-free coverage.

For example, this piece calls the tariffs “trade wars launched by U.S. President Donald Trump,” while this one frequently uses President Trump’s term, “Liberation Day.” Both will tend to skew your eventual consideration of the underlying policy.

I, too, have a view on tariffs, and it is not one I keep private. After all, trade policy has an outsized impact on both our national security posture and the availability of affordable goods around the world. However, one of our aims together as The Equipped is to grow our ability to interact directly with source material and examine it critically on the merits for ourselves. This story—and it’s timing and relative lack of neutral coverage—give us a prime opportunity to put that goal into practice.

When the tariffs are announced, read them for yourself. Intentionally set aside your preconceived opinion and consider both the pros and cons of the actions (I think you’ll find greater rationale for the side you are disinclined to support than you might think). Do so not to neutralize your view, but in fact to make your participation in the process of self-governance more effective and less subject to the opinion of either those issuing the policy or those covering it.

“In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines” (Pr. 18:17).

World

Convicted and Barred

In a ruling with major legal and political implications, Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement by a French court earlier this week. Le Pen, a leading political opponent of France President Emmanuel Macron, was sentenced to two years of house arrest and two years of a suspended prison sentence, both of which will not be served until an appeal is heard. Perhaps more significantly, Le Pen is immediately barred from seeking public office for five years. The ban is in effect even as an appeal moves forward.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Once again, it is tempting to default to your instinctive view of the public figures in this story. But once again, that would cloud your judgement about the two competing-yet-significantly-important components of the story: a) The merits and strength (or weakness) of the embezzlement evidence, and b) The potential political advantage gained by the ruling party as a result of the verdict.

As we’ve discussed before, the ability to self-govern (the governing systems in our world today represent a broad spectrum of this freedom—from totalitarian to democratic) reflects the Creator’s character in that you were made for freedom (Gal. 5:1). As we have often discussed, the freedom for which you were created is significantly more profound than simply political freedom. Even so, one of the challenges of integrating the biblical concept of freedom into a governing system is that those systems are made up of fallen men and women with a natural instinct to defend personal power.

A ruling like this one should remind us of what can feel like opposing truths: 1) No person should be above the law, and 2) Restraint on power is essential for the survival of a self-governing system.

As a Jesus follower, events like these should not diminish your courage and boldness, because your God is with you (Josh. 1:9). They should, however, sharpen your commitment to processes of justice that apply equally to all (Pr. 11:1).

U.S.

Special Elections

Floridians and Wisconsinites (dare we say Cheesheads?) went to the polls for special elections on Tuesday. In Wisconsin, the contest was for a seat on the state supreme court—a seat many view as determinative for how the court will lean ideologically in the years ahead. In Florida, the elections were for the U.S. House to fill the vacancies created by former Rep. Mike Waltz’s move to the administration and former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s resignation.

In Wisconsin, the election was technically non-partisan, but progressive Susan Crawford defeated conservative Brad Schimel by 10 points. In Florida, Republicans Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis defeated Democrats Josh Weil and Gay Valimont by 14 and 15 points respectively.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Nearly $100 million was spent on the special election in Wisconsin, and an enormous amount of attention was paid to the Florida elections due to the current razor thin majority in the U.S. House. While the amount of attention and resources spent on these elections is eye-popping, it is also indicative of a contested process—a blessing of liberty not enjoyed in many places of the world or across human history.

That said, no matter whether your preferred candidates prevailed or were defeated, God is on the throne (Ps. 47:8). This reality gives you both a boldness to contend within governments of men for the flourishing of your community and the confidence of knowing your eternity is secure no matter the outcome.

“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne” (Ps. 47:8).

The Beautiful

Abundance

You serve a God of abundance! In Numbers 13:23, spies were sent into the Promised Land and returned with a cutting of grapes that had to be carried on a pole between two men! It was a sign that God had prepared more than enough for His chosen people!

He has done the same for you, and it is far beyond what we tend to think of as abundance. It is not something as fleeting as wealth or possessions or even giant amounts of good food carried on a pole! Rather, it is a flourishing of “fruit” in your life! It is an inner being that grows closer to the likeness of your Savior every day, and it is the certainty of the eternal Promised Land!

The wealth of this world is here and gone! You, my friend, have been given the beautiful gift of true abundance!

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