“For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?” 2 Samuel 19:28
Sometimes I think I’m entitled to certain things, especially if I don’t see them as harmful. I have this bad habit of thinking I know what will make me happy. I’m not sure why I still find myself believing this from time to time because it has never proven true in the past. But there are times that I become convinced that THIS TIME I have really found exactly what I need to complete my life. And God says no.
This is where the rubber meets the road in our walk with God. What will you do with His no? I’ll tell you what I did – I cried over it, I tried to bargain with Him over it, I strayed into disobedience over it, and finally I got broken over it and let go.
I realized that I am a Mephibosheth who, by grace, has been given access to the King’s table always. Like Mephibosheth, there really is no good reason the King should have even allowed me to live, but He had mercy on me because He loves me. When I think deeply on these things I am very ashamed of how I have responded to His no.
Not only have I come to the conclusion that I have no right to complain, but I have no desire to either. Instead I will rejoice in this King who loved me enough to include me in His kingdom.
After the 70 years of Babylonian captivity had been completed and Babylon had been captured by the Persians, the Lord stirred the heart of King Cyrus to send the Jewish people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. A large group returned to begin the work and they all rejoiced when the foundation of the temple was completed.
But not everyone was happy about this development. There were others living in the land, adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, who wanted the work to stop. Eventually there was a new king who was not sympathetic to the Jews and he caused the work to be stopped. Those who opposed the work “went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.” Ezra 4:23
Approximately 15 years passed and still the temple rebuilding had not been resumed. Into this scene comes Haggai the prophet with these words:
“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”” Haggai 1:4-5
The work that they had begun with such zeal had been abandoned in the moment of opposition. The years passed and they started building their lives there and going on with things. Nothing they did really prospered, but it was life without the confrontation of enemies. Much more comfortable. They were lulled into complacency.
However, in the kingdom of Persia things had changed and a new king was in power. And God sent His word to wake His people up to the work to be done.
Do you hear that word today, for He is surely speaking it? Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.
Of a certainty the world is more wicked than it has been at any time in history. The end draws nearer every day. And there are many, so very many, that do not know our wonderful Jesus. I must ask myself, how does this affect my life? I must hear these words to me – Consider your ways.
A dear friend, who has faced much difficulty in life, recently sent me this encouragement in an email:
“We can smile, and be at peace in our souls, and why not, because the worst it ever gets here is as bad as it can get, because to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ at whose right hand are pleasures evermore… The only thing that mars our joy is the voluntary sorrow and grief that we suffer because of the love for dear precious souls that we love as we see them in their lost condition; foolishly unwilling to surrender their miserable and futile lives to the Only One who can save them and give them purpose and hope. What else is there to sorrow over? Our lives are in His hands, and whatever temporary suffering, loss, or lacking is inconsequential compared to eternity.”
There are wonderful days when all things that concern us are as we had always hoped they would be. And then there are days when tears are abundant and pain and loneliness reside as constant companions. But in just a few moments this vapor that is our life, with all its difficulties, temptations and sorrows, will be over. We will step over the threshold into our eternal dwelling where sorrow can never touch us again….ever.
A few moments of sorrow, even should they stretch into years or decades, cannot compare to the heavenly comforts that await us and the joy of gazing upon the face of Jesus.
Even if my worst fears on this earth are realized, they only serve as an instrument to draw me nearer to Jesus. Not only has death lost its sting, so has life.
“Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there.” Numbers 20:26
Several years ago I discovered the writings of Art Katz, which have been transformational for me. I had never been a great fan of Leviticus, dreading only the genealogies more. But Art Katz brought out some wonderful nuances of this book. In particular, the consecration of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood was a striking passage. (Leviticus 8). As part of the ceremony, Moses took them to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, gathered all the congregation around, and then stripped and washed them before putting the priestly garments on them. Although the priesthood was the highest calling, it involved the most humiliating initiation.
I have seen artists’ renditions of the high priestly garments and they are beautifully ornate. Of a certainty, they drew attention. It must have been quite an experience to wear those robes, that breastplate, the holy crown.
However, as the time drew near for Aaron’s death, Moses took Aaron up the mountain and he left the priesthood the same way he entered it – stripped before the watching world.
Just like Aaron, none of us enter into this priesthood of believers without being stripped of our own righteousness and broken over our sin. It is a humiliating experience to have your utter sinfulness revealed and all pretense of our own goodness stripped away. Oh, the tears and groanings and soul wrenching pain of repentance. But after the humiliation, we are washed with His Word and clothed with His righteousness. And although we entered this world through birth, it is only through this second birth that we truly begin to live.
But there will come a day, the day appointed for our departing from this world, when death will have its moment. Taken by strangers, we will be prepared for death as our lifeless bodies will be stripped and washed and put into the ground.
Humiliation and nakedness – in the beginning and the end. But what about the stuff between? That time between entrance into the priesthood and exiting this world….
For somewhere around 40 years Aaron was high priest. And while it wasn’t always pleasant, his position did give him a unique position in relation to God and the people. 40 years to be faithful or unfaithful. 40 years to be a blessing or a hindrance. 40 years to more fully learn the ways and nature of this God or to become insulated from him by religion.
What are we doing with these few years between life and death? This is the question we must ask ourselves. When that second stripping comes, will we be able to face it with joy, knowing that we have run this race well?
It is my prayer that we will. May God help us to be faithful to do all and be all to the glory of His name.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
It’s amazing how indestructible we can feel. 70, 80, 90 years does seem like an awfully long time to a finite mind. But the Bible says it is a vapor. A puff of smoke that you see for a moment and then it disappears. As we get older, I think some of this reality begins to dawn on us. So, as we become more settled in life, successful in career, we realize that now is the time to go for the gusto, grab life by the horns, eat, drink and be merry. At some point even 90 years doesn’t seem so terribly long and we begin trying to pack as much life into those few years as possible.
I know people who seem to live to accumulate more and better stuff. To them, that is life.
I know people who seem to live to stay intoxicated in some form as often as possible. To them, that is life.
I know some people who seem to live for that next relationship. To them, that is life.
I know people who seem to live to succeed in business. To them, that is life.
For those who don’t know Jesus, these drives are understandable. I am sad for them and long for them to know Jesus. But I understand why they chase after these other things. But oh how my heart breaks when those who name the name of Christ pursue these things.
In Christ, we have all things that pertain to life and godliness. These other things can NEVER give life, and certainly not abundant, eternal life. How sad to see those to whom grace has been extended, choose earthly delights instead of delighting in Christ.
Life is too short to almost live.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:28
Most people work to pay their bills and to acquire more stuff. This is the motivation to spend 40 hours (or more) at our workplace each week. And we work even harder so we can make more money so we can buy even more stuff. It’s the American way, right?
Maybe so, but it’s certainly not the way of Jesus. His teachings were full of words like “serve” and “give”. Sometimes as believers, we have to shake ourselves and realize that the American dream is in direct opposition to the Bible. Nowhere in Scripture are we told to acquire more goods for ourselves and hoard up possessions and money. On the contrary, Jesus told a story about a man who had to build a bigger place to store all his stuff – and Jesus called him a fool.
I do have bills that I need to pay. I do require certain necessities to survive. But I desire to be free from the mentality of excess that society flaunts before me. How can I justify the purchase of another pair of black shoes or another purse, when there are people who are in desperate need, not knowing where their next meal will come from? How could I justify the expense of a manicure when there are men and women on the mission field who have left everything to serve Christ and could be helped by that money?
Jesus said that there will always be poor people among us. This is just the nature of things in a fallen world. But should it be that the poor are among us because we are too greedy to share and give? Oh Lord, let it not be!
Oh, the freedom of a simple life that abounds in generosity to others. I want this life. To be free of the desire for stuff and more stuff, and to have a heart that delights in giving.
Not working to prosper; not working to accumulate wealth; but working to give. Seems to me, this would be a very blessed life.
“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
I will say again, that I love the sovereignty of God. I believe it when the Scriptures say that my steps are ordered by the Lord and that He has prepared good works for me to walk in. Each day is fashioned and prepared for me.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:16
Here’s a potential difficulty…..do I believe as strongly that He made the bad days as well as the good days? I don’t think there is any way we can get around it. The Lord has specially planned difficulties for us; and that is still the day that the Lord has made. But can we rejoice in it? Can we see beyond the inconvenience or sorrow it may bring into our life and let it “work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”?
Life is so short. Just a vapor. Just a few moments to love Jesus on this earth and share Him with others. Can we give these earthly days back to Him that He may conform us to the image of Christ? Can we not sacrifice a few days here in light of the glorious eternity that awaits us?
Oh Lord, I don’t want to be a fair weather disciple, only serving You when the path is smooth. For each day is a gift from Your hand, whether it brings gladness or difficulty.
Although I may not always be able to rejoice over the day, I can rejoice in it. I am learning that Jesus Christ is sufficient to make the heart glad at all times.
Life involves pain. No matter how much faith you have, or how deep your love for and trust in God, you will experience pain. Some pain is minor and easily forgotten. But there is other pain that is so deep that you carry the ache of it with you in your heart. During the busy events of the day it isn’t always at the forefront of your mind, but as soon as there is a moment of quiet, the ache returns. Seasons of deep pain bring us to a crossroads in this life of faith. Will we turn from Christ and seek solace elsewhere, or will we throw ourselves upon Him in greater dependency, knowing that our only hope is in Him?
I am in one of those seasons of pain. Life has taken an unexpectedly difficult turn and may yet become more difficult before it gets better. I carry the pain of it with me and tears are a frequent occurrence. I am anxious for a change in circumstances that will alleviate this pain.
But in the midst of this pain, does God have a work He desires to do in me? Absolutely. And God has mercifully allowed me to see some of the beautiful fruit of it. I would choose fruit without pain. But God knows that the sweetest and most enduring fruit is that which is born through tribulation. His wisdom is beyond my understanding.
But as for me, I have made my choice.
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:1-8
“for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10
There comes a point when we must choose where our affections and attention will be focused, because there are two worlds that vie for our attention. And by their very nature, they are mutually exclusive. Those who try to divide their heart between the two will find themselves to be most frustrated.
This present world is loud and sparkly and offers enjoyment for all. “Come and play”, it cries. “There are no rules here. You are free to do whatever makes you happy.” The problem is that all its promises are empty and it fails to deliver the happiness it guarantees. And the world will never tell you that its pleasures are temporary and the payment that is required at the end of your days is your very soul. But for many people, even at that price, this present world is too enticing to tear themselves away from.
Our lives are conducted at such a feverish pace that we do not live in the awareness that these few years we have on earth are quickly passing, with the end of each day bringing us that much closer to our final destination. And before we know it, this present world will be past and all that will remain is eternity. If all you are living for now is this present world, there will be no place for you in heaven and eternity becomes a most unpleasant future for you.
But those who are Christ’s have a different world in view – an eternal dwelling with our eternal Saviour.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Phil 3:20
We live here in this present world only for so brief a moment. My friends, let us not become attached to the things this world offers, but let us look beyond this present world to our future, and eternal, dwelling. With only one glance upon the face of Jesus Christ, we will forget that there was ever anything else but Him.
What exactly would it look like to give all to Jesus? To totally devote the entirety of your life to Him? It would probably look different for each one of us. I’m sure not everyone would be called to preach or be a missionary. Almost certainly there would be some changes though.
But what would it look like for me? I have been wondering this lately. I have a nice life. Nothing fancy. Simple, but nice. I love Jesus with all my heart and spend almost all of my free time in some type of spiritual activity. But is this giving all my life to Jesus?
I am asking Him this type of question these days. Life has been, for the most part, safe and predictable. Not much risk. Not much danger.
Not much accomplished to glorify God in the furtherance of His kingdom.
That’s how it seems to me right now, anyway. And I am seriously wondering what it would look like for me to give it all to Jesus.
He is my Delight 