For many years I’ve heard prophecies proclaiming, “Whatever can be shaken will be shaken.” Indeed, I’m sure I’ve prophesied along those lines in years past. These types of prophecies are in line with Hebrews 12:27, which promises “the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.”
To be sure, the shaking is underway. There have been more earthquakes, famines, wars and volcanoes in the first 13 years of this century than the entire 20th century. At the same time, we’ve seen economic collapses, rising turmoil in the Middle East, the redefinition of marriage in a growing number of U.S. states and foreign nations, and a decline in church attendance. Clearly, the shaking is intensifying, just as many have prophesied.
A Mighty Promise From God
But there is yet good news. The Lord spoke these words to my heart: “The righteous will never be shaken.” This is in line with a mighty promise in Psalm 112:
“Praise the Lord!
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.
“His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
“He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor. The wicked will see it and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.”
You Are the Righteousness of God
This promise is for you: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
Now, this is your legal position. Your living condition may not line up with your legal position. In other words, you may not fear the Lord or delight greatly in His commandments as you should. You may need to come up higher in trusting the Lord to battle the fearful imaginations that come against your mind. You may not be giving to the poor—or giving at all. You may need to cooperate a little more with the grace of God so that your living condition matches your legal position.
I beseech you by the mercies of God to come up higher this year. Yes, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. But we still live in these fleshly tents. God wants to change us from glory to glory to reflect the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Press into the gospel, “for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (Rom. 1:17). As you pursue gospel truths, you’ll receive revelation of God’s righteousness in you that will spark faith to walk in His Word.
Vows to the Consistently Righteous
In the days and years ahead, you’ll want to tap into the promises to the righteous. The New King James version of Proverbs alone mentions the “righteous”—what the Amplified Version calls the “consistently righteous”— or “righteousness” 75 times. The righteous are promised:
- Sound wisdom (Prov. 2:7)
- God as their buckler (Prov. 2:7)
- His secret (Prov. 3:32)
- Deliverance from death (Prov. 10:2)
- Avoiding famines (Prov. 10:3)
- Granted desires (Prov. 10:24)
- Gladness (Prov. 10:28)
- Immovability (Prov. 10:30)
- Direction (Prov. 11:5)
- Deliverance for family (Prov. 11:21)
- Flourishing (Prov. 11:28)
- Recompense in the earth (Prov. 11:31)
- Right thoughts (Prov. 12:5)
- Excellence (Prov. 12:26)
- Life (Prov. 12:28)
- Favor (Prov. 14:9)
- Hope in death (Prov. 14:32)
- Treasure (Prov. 15:6)
- Heard prayers (Prov. 15:29)
- Safety (Prov. 18:10)
- Honor (Prov. 21:21)
- Boldness (Prov. 28:1)
- Rejoicing (Prov. 29:6)
Yes, there is a shaking going on. But the Lord wants you to know this: “The righteous will never be shaken.” Those things you put your trust in apart from God—people, money, positions or something else—may be shaken, but God won’t be shaken and you won’t be shaken if your rely completely on Him. So ask the Holy Spirit if your living condition lacks His righteousness in any way, and then work with His grace to pursue righteousness. Jesus put it this way: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). Amen.
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@