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Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a choice or a decision with limited information, such make a purchase, accepting a new job, or moving from location to another? Have you ever found yourself struggling between two competing interests in your life, such as personal desires verses employment or financial concerns? It can be a bit frustrating to navigate the uncertainties of life that we are confronted with from time-to-time.

The current uncertainties of our present hour impose upon us choices and decisions that we must make in moving forward with our lives. These kind of uncertainties that we face are called dilemmas.

In psychology and counseling these terms are called ethical or moral dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas are defined as: situations in which difficult choices have to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle (Oxford Dictionary). Another way to define ethical dilemmas are to understand them as conflicts between alternatives where, no matter what a person does, some other ethical principle will be compromised.

No doubt the Apostles in our text are faced with just such an ethical dilemma: obey God or comply with the Sanhedrin? The situation in our nation is forcing similar ethical dilemmas for Christians: obey the Bible or compromise with the ever changing social and political realities in order have a peaceful and prosperous existence.

Therefore, as we examine the Scriptures, we will learn that…

Every believer can overcome the uncertainty of the times.

How?

1. By understanding that spiritual influence motivates opposition (v.17-18).

2. By remembering God’s Divine protection over your life (v.19-20, 34-40).

3. By continuing on in your walk with Christ (v.21a, 25, 42).

4. By standing up for your beliefs and values (v.29-32).

5. By having a proper attitude and response to persecution and injustice (v.41)

Concluding Thoughts:

We are living in a time of uncertainty. Political, social, and economic turmoil abounds. Our hearts and minds ponder our survival, sustainment, and futures as the times forge ahead. One writer has observed that human society goes through a period of upheaval and change every 500 years. She states that the last period of change was the Protestant Reformation. It has been 500 years since the Protestant Reformation. Moreover, the doomsday voices on radio, the internet, and television have people stirred up, hopeless, and desperate. Christians ought not to live in a state of survivalist panic and paranoia.

We must remember who we serve and who we will give an account to someday. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28). In the end, when faced with the dilemma over obeying Christ or government, we should heed the example of the Apostles and tell the world, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Therefore, we gladly take on the negative, condescending, and inflammatory epithets of human derision as badges of honor in solidarity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was despised and rejected of men.

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