The Pastor’s Piece – Pastor Kevin Cernek, FCFI Chaplain

Villag

May 24, 2026

History is never simply political – there is always a spiritual reality surrounding human events. The wars, alliances, betrayals, and struggles between the nations of the world reveal how unstable and self-exalting human power becomes when separated from God. Earthly conflicts are manifestations of a deeper battle between human pride, between the powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, and the sovereign rule of God. Behind every age of oppression or arrogance stands the same spiritual issue: humanity is attempting to rule without submission to God.

C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, presented a powerful argument often called the “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord” trilemma. Lewis wrote that people often say they are willing to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher but not as God. He argued that this is not a reasonable conclusion because a man who made the claims Jesus made could not simply be regarded as a good teacher. According to Lewis, Jesus would either be a liar, a lunatic, or truly the Lord. The question Lewis presses upon every reader is simple: Who is Jesus really?

The Scriptures consistently point to the trustworthiness of God and the certainty of His promises. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself as faithful, truthful, and unchanging. Because His character never changes, His promises never fail. One of the clearest assurances in Scripture is that God will never abandon His people. Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” while Matthew 28:20 reminds believers that Christ is with them always, even to the end of the age. In moments of loneliness, uncertainty, or fear, believers can rest in the promise that God’s presence remains constant whether they feel or not.

Another foundational promise is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 declares that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life, and Romans 10:13 assures us that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Salvation is not earned by human effort but received through faith in Christ alone. This promise offers hope to every person seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

The Bible also promises complete forgiveness for those who repent. First John 1:9 teaches that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Through Christ, guilt no longer defines the believer because grace has the final word. Even hardships can be used for good purposes because God works all things for good for His people. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph told his brothers, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” This does not mean every circumstance is easy or understandable, but it does mean God is sovereign over every detail of life.

The promises of God endure because God cannot lie and He does not change. His faithfulness has been demonstrated throughout history and ultimately through Jesus Christ. When someone truly encounters Jesus, everything changes. Christ gives a living hope that cannot die. This is more than comfort or inspiration; it is the assurance that death is not the end and that those who belong to Christ will live again.

The call of these promises is not merely to admire them but to rest in them completely. To believe that God is truly with us when we feel alone, that He has truly forgiven us when we feel unworthy, and that He is truly working for good even when life feels unresolved. These promises are not fragile because they are grounded in the character of God Himself.

We have so much to be thankful for. We could make long lists of blessings we are experiencing. But above every earthly blessing stands the eternal reality Jesus Christ has opened the way for us to come near to God. Through Him, we are not only forgiven, we are welcomed into the presence of the living God and invited to remain there. There is no greater privilege in this world than to know Him, to behold Him, and to linger in His presence. The deeper truth is one day, faith will become sight. The presence we now taste in moments of worship and communion will surround us fully and forever. May God’s blessings be yours in their fullness.

(Kevin Cernek is Lead Pastor of Martintown Community Church in Martintown, Wisconsin)