I’ve been enjoying a two week stay in Wales where I’m house and dog sitting for friends who are away on vacation. Their home is in the countryside. Every morning, Buddy the dog, and I stroll along the River Wye. It’s a lovely start to the day.
Most of the days have been filled with the warmth of sunshine, but during two days, the sky turned grey with clouds. Rain fell on occasion and the wind picked up, whipping through plants and trees. During one particular afternoon, I stood watching the power of the wind. It was lashing out through the trees, causing branches to go swirling in all directions. What drew my particular attention was the affects of wind among the smaller plants. The wind was mighty, and the rain pelted down; at times bending the plants over, causing the tops to scrape the earth. That’s when I remembered something that I had once read about plants in a storm.
I read about a group of botanists who conducted experiments involving plants. They put the plants in glass containers so they could easily see the roots of each plant. Then, in their garden laboratory, they created storm conditions, sending water and wind thrashing down and whipping about the plants. What they saw, I found amazing! When the storm had become its most ferocious, the botanists could actually see the roots move and stretch down, going deeper into the soil. Isn’t that amazing? Yet again, we see how our magnificent God has woven His truths into the fabric of all His nature.
You see, what God writes within nature, reflects His truth in our spiritual worlds. Haven’t you had times in life when storms of turmoil had reached a point that, like David in the Psalms, you cried out, “How long, Lord, will you wait? When, Lord, will you come to my rescue? Are you ever going to change my situation? How long, how long, how long? It’s a continuous, agonizing cry!
The storms of despair blow so ferociously, that the leaves of our content are plucked right away. Branches of trust are stripped bare! Winds of doubt bend us to the earth in our mournful plight. How long, Oh Lord, how long? But wait, our Lord has not forsaken us. He has not left us without means to grasp strength, courage, and inner peace. There is no storm that can literally blow us to bits. Nature shows us that truth. Like the plants, we can also, as it says in Colossians 2:7, Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”
It’s so easy in a storm, to focus on what we see: winds of discouragement and rains of despair, threatening to rip away our peace and drown all our joy. It need not be, if we focus, not upon what we see with our eyes, but upon what we know in our hearts. Go to the root of the matter, and stretch your weary roots, deep into the soil of God’s love. Draw upon His nourishment. Remind yourself of His guidance in past storms. Winds and rains of frustration and tears of heartache may batter and bend you, but they need never break you. Let your roots go down deep, and draw from the richness of God’s own wisdom and guidance. He is there in the sunshine of our lives, and He is there in the storms of our lives. He is the very soil in which our roots go down deep, and they hang on, bending but never breaking.
I love the story of Paul and Silas. These two men, giants in their faith in God, knew the secret to inner joy, no matter the outer circumstances. Do you remember the incident when they were beaten with wooden rods, then thrown into prison and chained? It’s recorded in Acts 16:11-40. I wonder how you and I would feel in similar circumstances? There they were, doing all kinds of good things: helping people, sharing God’s love, and telling the true story of Jesus everywhere they went. In the very midst of all their good works, what happens? They get falsely accused, beaten on their bare backs with wooden rods, thrown into a dark prison and chained.
We would understand if we read of how Paul and Silas lamented their situation. We could appreciate if they cried out to God, “why have you let this happen to me?” Instead, they did something most peculiar. The Scripture tells us in verse 25, “Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” I’m sure the other prisoners were listening. What must they have thought? Perhaps they thought, what nuts! Perhaps they wanted to know how Paul and Silas maintained peace in their predicament.
There is nothing wrong at all with being totally honest before God with our feelings; He knows what we’re thinking anyway. However, I find a sadness when Christians get mad at God for allowing some hardship into their lives, and then ask the question, “why me?” The question “why” often has no answer. Rather than, “why have you allowed this?” perhaps the question, instead, should be, “what?” What do you want to show me or teach me through this? What do you, God, want to reveal about Yourself through this? What do You want to build in my life through this?
In the story of Paul and Silas in prison, there is no indication that they asked “why?” Instead, there is every indication that they were trusting in the “what?” The very fact that they could pray and sing in such a situation let’s us know that, while they couldn’t know what God would do; they knew He would do something. When we focus on the why, it leaves us looking more inward than upward. When we focus on the what, it brings our sights heavenward, where we trust in our God who does all things well. It increases our anticipation as we eagerly wait to see what God will do. The knowing why fades into irrelevance as we press on and wait for the what.
If we choose, as Paul and Silas did, to pray and sing when we don’t know “why” some woe has fallen upon us, the anticipation of “what” will shake the foundations of our anguish. It will break the chains of our despair. It will open the doors to hope, freeing us from the prison of our inner torment. We will walk through our troubles in the joy of “what” God has done and of “what” He will continue to do. Mulling over “why” may only lead us into further introspection where doom and gloom await us. Asking “what” leads us to The Potter’s door where holy molding takes place.
Never forget, too, as verse 25 reveals, when we are first thrust into a prison of suffering, the other prisoners will be listening.” Perhaps your anticipation of “what is God going to do?” will fill others with hope in the midst of their own chains of despair.
In our world there seems to be a cure-all for all sorts of situations. When our hair turns grey, there is dye to change its color. When wrinkles appear, there is anti-wrinkle cream to help them fade away. When a tummy roll appears, there’s purpose designed diets and exercises to rid us of that excess. There are alleged cures for cellulite, lack of energy, and even pills to help our memory. The world has definitely given us a cure-all mentality.
In our physical worlds, we are disappointed, time and time again at failed cure-all attempts. All too soon, we realize the wrinkles may appear to fade — but in reality, they are still there. Even cosmetic surgery lasts but a little while in comparison to all the days of our lives. Perhaps we hide them away for awhile, but they always make their presence known to us, especially in the mornings!
Is it the same in our spiritual world? Is there a cure-all for our disappointments in life?Indeed, we have hope that never fades. The answer to our spiritual problems, or our emotional worries, lies not in anything temporary, but in the eternal Word of God. Only this week someone told me, “I like to think about Jesus and say a prayer when I’m worried, but I don’t have time to read the Bible and pay much attention to it.” My heart sunk for them. They had missed the whole point; not only of solving difficulties and finding strength to get through them, but of knowing full joy in their everyday lives. Subconsciously, this person is treating Jesus like a daily anti-worry cream to smooth away the wrinkles of their discontent. To say we will think upon Jesus, but ignore the Word of God, is the futile and foolish attempt to dissect Jesus — it can’t be done. How do we know that? Because in I John 1:1 it says, “He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life.“ Later on in that same chapter, verse 4, it says, “We are writing these things so that your joy will be complete.”
The Apostle John wrote this letter to remind the church of just what we have when we have Jesus residing in our lives. In this first chapter alone we are reminded that Jesus is The Word. Jesus is Eternal Life. Jesus is the Light that dispels all darkness. It is only as we truly come to understand what we have in Jesus, that we also understand and know true joy. Too often, we confuse happiness and joy, believing them to be the same thing. Not so! My father, Dr. Chuck Blair, wrote concerning this matter, “Happiness depends on circumstance — is temporary. Joy depends on relationship — is permanent.” There are many circumstances and situations which will provide us great happiness for a time, but the joy of Jesus stays with us no matter what takes place in our lives. I love the verse in Jeremiah 15:16 which says, “Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Jeremiah understood the importance of relationship with God and that the very Word is God. One cannot dissect this truth without walking in error which will only lead to temporary happiness, and never to lasting joy.
Now, here’s an important point: Having relationship with Jesus is the key that unlocks the door that leads to joy. However, never forget, that once relationship is made, it is fellowship with Jesus that cements His joy in our hearts. To know Him and ignore Him will not bring joy. To know Him and plunge in to know Him more, all the days of our lives — that is the guarantee to joy, no matter the disappointments and hard times that life gives to us.
Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” Ask the Lord to help you remember that, it’s relationship and fellowship with Jesus, who is the Word, which brings complete joy. Anything less is only a fading happiness at best.
I wonder how many reading this have an attic or a basement or a spare room that’s full of — just stuff! It’s easy to fill a room to a point, that in no time at all, it’s so full that we can’t even remember what’s in there. When we do finally take the time to sort through everything that has gathered, we surprise ourselves at having so much clutter. We discover that we have many things that we do not need. So, we have a spring cleaning and we get rid of all that we haven’t used in a very long time. When we’ve finished, we stand back and admire the beauty of the space; all clutter is gone. Then what happens? We begin to fill it all up, yet again, with things we don’t need. Perhaps in time, we clear all the clutter out once more. We repeat this process countless times throughout our lives. Of course, for those who horde, the clutter gets worse and worse until there’s barely anything in the room that’s recognizable or even useful.
We do the very same thing in our spiritual world. It’s our mind that becomes the storage closet where we keep things that we do not need. We throw in worry. We throw in bitterness. We throw in loathing of ourselves and of others, too. We throw in distrust in God. We throw in guilt. The list could go on and on, but you get the idea. Why do we collect so much garbage in both our physical and our spiritual worlds? Worst still, why do we keep it for so long? Garbage will only, with time, rot and stink. When we clutter our minds with garbage and leave it there, our thoughts begin to rot and stink, too. It’s not fun. Garbage covers our peace with the thick dust of despondency.
Apostle Paul encouraged us in Philippians 4:8 to “Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are worthy of praise.” Do you notice that it’s a command? It doesn’t say to try and think about things pure and lovely. It says to do it. In other words, the moment you realize that a piece of garbage has been stored in the closet of your mind — throw it out! How do we throw garbage out of our minds? By choosing and training our minds to think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. For example, when worry gets thrown in, replace it with reminders that God never makes mistakes and He cares for you immeasurably. When self loathing gets stored in a great big box, replace it with the fact that you are so precious to Jesus, that He willingly died so you could have life. When loneliness ends up on a shelf in your mind, replace it with God’s truth that says He will never leave you or forsake you. God’s Word is the best cleaner of all. It removes every stain and piece of dirt in our minds, and replaces the stink of garbage with the sweet fragrance of God’s love. God’s Word purifies.
Where God’s Word lives, no garbage can survive. Therefore, let’s do spring cleaning all year round. Peace will thrive in an uncluttered mind.
Everywhere I travel, I meet Christians who are excitedly talking about the Lord’s return. Jesus told His disciples to watch for the signs and be ready because He would come back to gather His own unto Himself. There have always been signs, but today, there are more signs than ever before. As we keep an eye on world events in politics and the economy, moral decline, and even weather conditions, Christians everywhere are feeling an excitement begin to churn within. Could it be? Will He return in our lifetime? Questions swirl in our minds; hope grows in our hearts.
However, even as we anxiously and joyfully await Jesus’ return, let us not make the mistake that so many have made in the past. Although Jesus told us of the signs, He never pinpointed an exact day. Even He said that only His Father knew the time of His return. But the signs! When we see them, what can we do but look up and wait? That’s where the mistake comes. We don’t simply look up and wait; but in our excitement we must — get back to work — while we’re waiting.
Remember when Jesus rose from the dead? Then, after 40 days, He returned to heaven, rising up into the sky as the crowd was watching. It’s recorded in Acts 1:1-11. Look carefully at verses 10-11, “As they were straining their eyes to see Him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw Him go, He will return!'”
The question the angels put to the crowd is also for us today. We watch for the signs that Jesus is getting ready to return. We want to be ready, living right and holy, so we’re not ashamed and embarrassed at His return; but while we wait, we continue working every day to the best of our ability. We work hard to live as our Father in heaven instructs us. We work hard to share the love of God with those around us. We work hard to let us others know that Jesus is the only way that we may find forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life in heaven with Him.
It’s like the farmer. I wonder if there has ever been a more strenuous occupation than that of the hard working farmer. He puts seed into the ground. He waters and cares for the soil. Then — he waits. He believes with all his heart that the seed will grow. Soon, something sprouts from the ground. Signs of produce coming! So, what does the farmer do? Does he stand there, staring, waiting? Of course not! He works hard to keep the fields free of weeds. He works hard to prepare His equipment for harvest. He works hard to make his barn ready to store the produce. He watches the signs with great excitement, knowing that what he waits for will come soon; and while he waits, he works hard to prepare for that moment.
We see the signs around us. We know Jesus could return any moment. Therefore, we work all the harder to keep our hearts ready to meet Him at that most glorious and joyful of moments. As it tells us in I Thessalonians 4:16, when we least expect it, the trumpet will sound, and we will be gathered with Him in the sky. Keep watching — but work hard — be ready!
Have you ever wondered if your prayers really do any good? Do they matter? Does God truly pay attention to what you pray? The resounding, joyful answer is an absolute — yes! One of the most beautiful reminders of this fact is recorded in Revelation 8:3-4: “Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.”
If our prayers didn’t matter, there wouldn’t be so many encouragements in God’s Word to do that very thing, and to do it with regularity. Our prayers matter for so many reasons: they keep our own minds concentrated on the holiness and goodness of God, prayers replace our worries with God’s own peace, prayers keep us focused upward on the possibilities of God rather than on the impossibilities of ourselves, prayers give hope in situations that otherwise fill us with despair. Prayer comforts, brings joy,and adds peace in our hearts no matter what winds of trouble blow around us. That’s what prayer does for us.
What does prayer do for God? Our heavenly Father never forces His will upon us. Even when He knows we are taking wrong paths and making unhelpful choices, He leaves the will to seek Him or not, up to us. When we make that choice to ask for God’s guidance and His comfort, we see from the above passage of Scripture, that our prayers are so precious to our heavenly Father, that He collects them. Angels guard them and offer them on the golden altar of God Almighty, where the sweet incense of our prayers waft up to His very presence on His throne. Isn’t that a beautiful picture of just how precious are our prayers to our Father? Isn’t this a lovely reminder that, indeed, our hurts are of great concern to our Father? He loves. He cares. He desires to intercede, bringing His own calm to quieten the storms in our lives.
Are you ever troubled that you don’t know the right words to say? Do you ever consider that your prayers won’t be acceptable to God because you are not eloquent in speech? Take heart, because God does not look for smooth-tongued prayers; He looks for genuine cries of the heart. He is not concerned with your expertise, or lack thereof, of articulation; your Father is concerned with what troubles you, and that you ask for His help, and that you develop an inner spirit of true worship of Him who is holy forever, rather than on the things of this world which are temporal, fading away it its despair and futility of living.
Your prayers are precious to your heavenly Father — that’s because you are precious to your heavenly Father. Therefore, never cease to talk to the One who loves you beyond measure. Your prayers make a heavenly difference.
I love to travel, which is a good thing, because I’ve been traveling all my life. My father’s air force career kept me traveling with my family all through my childhood. In my own adult life, I’ve been traveling to countries across the oceans for 35 years. I love trying new foods, adapting to different cultures, listening to various languages, and observing God’s beautiful creation in every country.
In some of my travels, especially when spending numerous days in the mountains of Central Asia, taking a hot shower is non-existent. Often, changing clothes on a daily basis is also non-existent. These things are all a part of cultural adjustment and adaptation. I have learned, and maintain, that keeping a good sense of humor, helps to get one through these unusual situations with greater ease. Also, travel adventures make great stories, so plunge right in and enjoy cultural differences to the hilt!
As much fun as I might have on my traveling escapades, I confess that, on the return home, I start envisioning the hot shower awaiting me! Oh, how good I know it’s going to feel; hot water — endless hot water, flowing all over! Oh, and to put on fresh clothes that are clean and smell good, too! Now, wouldn’t it be absolutely strange if, upon taking and enjoying, my longed for hot shower, instead of putting on the good-smelling, fresh clothing, I put the dirty ones back on? Would that make any sense at all? Of course not! It would not only be strange; it would be foolish.
Knowing that such an act would indeed be a foolish thing to do, why do we sometimes do that very thing in our spiritual worlds? There comes a time in our lives when we realize what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross to pay the price for our own sins. Realizing that, we accept His gift of salvation, through a prayer of repentance and thankfulness for what He has done. Then, He washes us clean; and not only that, He puts within us a new heart, as Paul affirms in II Corinthians 5:17, “Those who have become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old is passed away, and all things have become new.”The becoming new means that Christ puts within us His Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us; to give us strength to actually keep on our clean clothes. It’s the only way of true joy.
Why then, comes the question again, do we pick up our old, dirty clothes, stepping back into the world from which we have been freed? As Paul reminds us in II Corinthians 4:7, although we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are also still trapped in our earthly bodies. We are troubled and perplexed, face difficulties, suffer physically, and are tempted on every front to, indeed, put our dirty clothes back on. What can we do?
It’s all a matter of focus. When we fall down, don’t lay there and focus on the failure; look up and focus on the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Focus on the truth of I John 1:9 that promises us, “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Remember, too, this wonderful promise found in I Corinthians 10:13, “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” Isn’t that an exciting promise?
Therefore, if you find that you have gone and foolishly put your dirty clothes back on — don’t stand there and smell; ask the forgiving love of Jesus to dress you again in the new clothes that He died for you to wear. Did you know that, when Jesus dresses you, you are, as it tells us in II Corinthians 2:15, “…a fragrance presented by Christ to God…a life giving perfume.” Now, that’s a beautiful reason to get rid of those dirty clothes.
I’ve always known about myself, that music is like a tonic to my inner being. Music renews me, refreshes me, uplifts me. When I am down, the best way up, is through the joy of a song, but not any song; it must be a song of praise to the One I love so much.
I was reminded of this beautiful fact, just this week, while walking down a dusty, broken sidewalk, during my current visit into Central Asia. I took note of the poor conditions around me: two homeless men sleeping by a ditch, children gathering water for their families from pumps by the side of the road, ladies picking through crates of tired looking tomatoes and cucumbers for the freshest ones. I’m very aware of the financial burdens the people face on a daily basis. They are constantly seeking a way to purchase food, medicines, and pay utility bills. Inflation climbs higher while their salaries and pensions remain the same. Everyone, also, keeps their eyes on political tensions. There have been three uprisings in the last ten years that all resulted in bloodshed. There are rumors of another to come.
As the above thoughts were racing through my mind as I walked along the broken sidewalk, something else brought my feet to a stop. It was the singing. Singing, from above. No, not a host of angels appearing, but a flock of sparrows chirping and singing their little hearts out. Oh, what beauty to my ears, and what a tonic to my heart!
Do you remember the example that Jesus gave his disciples in Matthew 6? The example about the birds and the lilies of the fields? Jesus pointed out that, even the birds and the flowers didn’t worry about the troubles around them. Therefore, Jesus encouraged, if you and I are loved more than the flowers and the birds, then why don’t we simply trust our Father, too? If He cares for nature, and He does, how much more does He love and care for you and me?
Beneath the trees, the world is broken, hurting, and suffering deeply; but above, the world is full of rapturous song! It is the song of the Father that lifts our hearts in times of pain and suffering. As the Psalmist wrote in chapter 96:1,11-12, “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise! Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord!”
Never forget — while the world around you may be dismal, to those who know the Father, there is a song of gladness to soothe all wounds. Let us learn from The Creator’s creation, the joy of a song!
Have you ever found yourself in a tough spot; it seems there’s no way out, and you find yourself wondering, why isn’t God helping me? You certainly wouldn’t be alone if those thoughts have entered your mind. It can be hard to understand why God seemingly leaves us to our own devices to get out of our troubles. Let’s take a look at that and delve into some truth.
You see, truth or the promises of God, is what we must determine to stand on at all times. For example, when you feel that God is not helping and has left you alone, then remind yourselves of His promise in Hebrews 13:5 where He says clearly that He will never leave us. It’s easy, but not the best, to rely on our “feelings” rather than on God’s truth, but it’s relying on God’s truth that helps keep our faith strong. Our feelings have nothing to do with faith. Pastor and writer Ron Dunn once said, “Emotion is but the echo of an experience and destined to fade into nothingness.” Don’t rely on wishy-washy feelings: rely on the truth of God.
Did you know that God actually gives us our faith? It’s not something we emotionally whip into being. II Peter 1:1 tells us, “I am writing to all of you who share the same precious faith we have, faith given to us by Jesus Christ, our God and Savior who makes us right with God.” It’s an interesting and vital circle to our spiritual effectiveness, to recognize God’s key to faith. God gives us faith. We may choose to initially receive that faith or not. When we choose to receive His gift of faith, then the next step to take is to get to know Him better. Peter tells us this, too, in II Peter 1:2, “May God bless you with His special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.” We get to know Him in the same way that we get to know anyone — by spending time with Him. Read His words of truth and promise, of comfort and guidance. Talk to Him about everything.
As we get to know Him better, something essential takes place: we develop a strong desire to do everything He says. We want to obey Him, and we find it a joy to do so, because we have learned to trust Him. How did we learn to trust Him? By knowing Him better. All of us find it difficult to trust someone we don’t know very well, but as we know a person and see their goodness and integrity, then we find it easy to trust what they say. God always has our best interests in His heart — always. As we come to know that as truth in our hearts, too, then we can do what He says to do with great joy, which will result in us following His guidance, which will result in our faith growing stronger. Do you see the wonderful circle of truth here? God gives faith to us, we accept His gift of faith and choose to learn more about Him. As we learn more about Him we discover that we trust Him and what He is allowing in our lives because we trust His love and His plans for us. Therefore, we do whatever He says to do, and what happens? Faith continues to grow stronger.
II Peter 1:3-4 says, “As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, He has given us all His rich and wonderful promises.” Isn’t God’s design to keep our faith strong absolutely wonderful? When we get to know Him, learn to trust Him, then our faith keeps us focusing on His goodness, rather than on our troubles of the day. The troubles of the day will fade as we grab hold of the truth that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Get to know Him better and see for yourselves whether this is true or not. I know you won’t be disappointed because knowing God and trusting Him only brings peace of heart. When God’s peace reigns in your heart, you will never again ask, why isn’t God helping me, because you will see that He has planned a path that you can trust, even in the difficulties of life. God is love — all the time — that’s truth we can trust.
Many Christians will say they’re not afraid of death because they know where they are going; however, many admit to being fearful of the process. All of us, at some time, will have to watch or be nearby when a loved one leaves this world for heaven. Will they be afraid at the moment of that last breath? Will darkness engulf them? What exactly happens, at the very instant, when one leaves earth for heaven?
Understanding this is beautifully illustrated for us in Psalm 23. It’s a favorite of many. Let’s delve into it now, and let’s begin with the first three verses: The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.” These verses describe for us what should be the normal life of every Christian. It’s a joy and comfort to keep the truth in our minds, that whatever we go through while we are living on earth — we have everything we need — because our Shepherd is making certain of that very thing. He leads us to rest when we’re weary from the battles in our lives. He walks with us after temptations and troubles, leading us to peaceful streams that refresh us. He leads us along paths of His choosing; He has a faultless plan for everyone. What lovely illustrations, picturing our Shepherd Jesus, watching over and caring for us, His sheep, whom He loves passionately.
Then we come to verses 4-5 which illustrates the sheep coming to the end of life on earth. “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect me and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” What a glorious comfort to know, that not at any time, will our Shepherd Jesus leave us. Because He has promised to never leave us, we know, with gladness, that when our time on earth, or the time of a loved one on earth, comes to an end, the Shepherd’s rod and staff protect and comfort. What does that mean exactly? It means this: Satan will not be pleased with the peace and joy one has in the time of death; therefore, he may attempt to bring dark illusions of a fearful nature, but take heart; those dark illusions will never come to pass because the Shepherd will strike out at the hungry wolves of darkness and send them on their way. The sheep will be fully protected from fear at all times. Most likely, the sheep will not even have been aware that the wolves were fast approaching; such is the Shepherd’s love and protection of those ready to enter heaven. Our Shepherd fights off the wolves so that we may breathe in perfect peace and serenity.
The rest of verse 5 reads, “You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” At the very second we exhale our last breath on earth, we inhale our first breath in heaven. Then we see what we have thus far only dreamed about: the face of Jesus, a place of no more tears or sadness, loved ones gone on ahead of us, angels worshipping the Lamb of God. The joy will be endless and immeasurable!
Verse 6 beautifully sums up the sheep’s life on earth and the promised life in heaven that will come to every child of God. “Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” What a glorious comfort to be reminded, that during our life on earth, whatever the trouble or calamity, God’s very own goodness and His very own love will pursue us all our days. Then, when that time comes that we are allowed to leave earth for heaven, we are emphatically promised that we will live with Him, in His house, forever! For the Christian, it just can’t get any sweeter, for in that place there will be the joy of complete understanding of what Jesus has done for us; there will be total joy in worshipping the One who gave His all, that we may both, live and die, in perfect peace.
Recent Comments