12/12/2019
When we first believed we were so certain that our love for Jesus would never falter. In that moment His presence filled us with great joy, and His peace was upon us, but now, after many years, we look back on our life of faith, and realize that although our desire was always to be faithful... it has not always been so. Despite our love for Jesus, and our adoration of the Father, we have not always lived up to our pledge. Oh the times of remorse, and the hours spent in prayerful contrition, but God is faithful, and Jesus ever at our side in forgiveness saying “Go and sin no more.”
“They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord...”
Hosea 5:7 ESV
When I first knew Jesus, and sat in the living room of my Bible school teacher’s home confessing my belief in Him I felt as though I was floating above the floor, and that my love for Him would be caught up in this moment forever. I rode my by bicycle home that afternoon lifted on the wings of angels, and couldn’t wait to tell the world of my God, my Savior, and for the Sabbath to arrive. Do you recall a similar occurrence, and feeling?
As I was reading Charles Spurgeon today I was reminded of that glorious moment, and all my days since... all he days of my life, the joys, peaceful days, and yes, the hardships, slumbers, and laxness of my faith as well...
“How faithless we have been in the matter of vows. Do you remember the love of your first promises, that happy time, the springtime of your spiritual life? Oh, how tightly you cling to your Master then! You said, “He will never charge me with indifference; my feet will never grow slow in His Service; I will not allow my heart to wander after other lives... Has that been true?” - Charles Spurgeon
Our nature, complete with the sincerity of our pledges, and the failures we experience as we work diligently to honor them, are no surprise to God, and no mystery to Jesus. Days of springtime faith ebb like a tide into summer, and slip back into fall, but even in the frozen ground of winter we find trust and hope in God’s promises and the redeeming blood of Jesus as it stirs us once again into renewed life. They are forever faithful... even from within the cold winds of our heart they speak to us of their Eternal warmth, and love. It is in the season of winter’s darkness that we most clearly see their light, and return to them. This is the time of our remorse, contrition, and of hours spent in tears. We feel these moments... just as the Apostle Peter felt them...
“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:61-62 ESV
We were not chosen because of our perfection. No, we were chosen while yet sinners, and are meant to be transformed... perfected as the many trials and failures of life temper us, and give our faith the strength of the Lord’s steel.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ESV
I read a speech given by a football coach as he spoke to his team following an exceptionally bitter loss. He told them that they learned more in the defeats of life than they could ever learn in its triumphs. I have thought about this often, dwelling on how true I found it to be, and interestingly enough, I seem to contemplate it most when I feel like I have disappointed God, my Father. Seeing disappointment in our Father’s eyes transforms our behavior, and it changes us in ways that nothing else can.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
So, we will fly on the wings of eagles, and will be lifted to amazing heights by angels, but there will most certainly be the times of disappointment, and they will dishearten us if we can’t trust in our Father’s faithfulness, and kneel in our prayer closets with tears, and a contrite heart, as Jesus makes intercession for us. Can you feel the remorse? Can you pray this way? Are you trusting in the contrition of Jesus to reach the Father’s throne... His ears... His heart?
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your only begotten Son to live, die, and be resurrected for my sins. Thank you Holy Father for your perfect grace that takes me by the hand when I slip into the winters if my faith, and lifts me once again into the springtime of your presence, and fills me with your warm rains of peace, and joy. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who’s promises are forever true, and in whom I trust with all my heart. Praised be your name for the mercy you show me, and the Holy Spirit that brings power to my faith. Wonderful are you whose grace flows through Jesus Christ, and lifts me time and again from my laxness of faith, and the more of sins I have fallen into. Great are you as you take my failures, and teach me perfection through them... I will worship you in all your light, but especially when I see you from my darkest hours. You are my hope, and my trust in you lifts me, and thrills my very soul... now, and forevermore.
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV
Rich Forbes