09/25/2020
The stock markets may crash, and the influences of COVID-19 might bankrupt our businesses, but God remains with us, and will always be our strength. The trust we place in the things of this world is like walking on thin ice... we never know when it might give way, but God is true, and strong, He is with us always... even when the ice gives way, and our life is ebbing away.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 ESV
We walk out of our house in the morning to go to work, and we are confident that we will return at the end of the day, but in an instant, a car pulls in front of us, there is a crash, and our lives are changed, or lost, forever.
I had a similar occurrence when I was a teenager and nearly drowned while on a camping trip. I had looked forward to that trip for quite some time, but I made a bad choice of swimming too long, and suddenly I found myself sinking into the depths of Lake Occoquan. I was certain that my life was over, but I was miraculously saved that day. The point I am making isn’t that miracles happen (even though they do), my point is that we don’t know the time nor place when everything we possess on earth will be gone, or one bad decision can take away the plans we have made for our lives.
“But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.”
Isaiah 47:11 ESV
In the moment of my great peril, when without warning I was facing death, every earthly thing I valued in life was coming to an end. At that moment, I was most concerned about my family, and what would come of them. I could see my mother crying, and my brothers and sisters trying to make it through life without me. It was all ending, but then I heard a voice that informed me (paraphrased) “they are mine, and always have been”, and at that moment I was overcome with the realization that their life, like mine, was in the Lord’s hands, and He would look after them as He had always looked after me. In that instant I was ready to go with Him, and to continue feeling the joy and peace of that divine experience, but I heard again “Stand up!”, and when I did my head broke the surface of the water; transported to shore, and with no water in my lungs... a lesson learned, and a miracle received. What we think is ours in this world, even the lives we struggle so hard to support, are not ours, and fleeting. What is truly ours is the relationship we have with Jesus, and God. An English clergyman of the 1600s put it this way...
“If God is once your portion, He will forever be your portion. When earthly things are taken from away from you, He is the good part that will never be taken away.” - George Swinnock
I realized this, a 17th century clergyman had realized this, and Jesus also realized this. We read this in connection with the story of Jesus interacting with Martha, and Mary in Luke. Martha, and Mary, were sisters, and Martha was the more pragmatic of the two. She dealt with the things of the world that needed to be done, while Mary sat learning at the feet of Jesus. So, when Jesus finally arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, Martha asked Him to tell Mary to help her serve the funeral guests. The response she received from Jesus was not the one she was looking for; listen As Jesus speaks...
“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:41-42 ESV
Mary was dealing with the divine nature of Lazarus’s death, and this was the portion that could never be taken away from her. So how are we dealing with the “things” in our lives? Are we concentrating on what is everlasting, or on the transient earthly things? Are we paying attention to earthly treasures, and God’s possessions that we naively think belong to us, or are we Looking after our faith, and relationship we have with Jesus, and God?
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the earthly things you give us, and those that you have allowed us to love, but thank you most for revealing how suddenly these things can fall away, and how our loved ones are in truth your children. Help us Father to lean on you for understanding, and look to you in all things, and during every second of every day. Let our losses, and even a sudden death, not surprise us or catch us off guard. Keep our eye always on your Word, and our relationship with you strong, so that when these moments arise we will be ready to face them with confident understanding, and come before you in righteousness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God to whom all creation belongs, and is subservient. Praised be your name for loving us, and calling us your friends, your children, and your own. You are long suffering, and full of grace as you await our belief, prayers of contrition, and the opportunity to forgive us our sins. Powerful are you Lord, and not death nor sin can overcome you. Into your arms we commend our spirits, and in so doing we neither doubt, nor fear their loss. Come quickly Lord Jesus; wash us clean in your blood, and stand with us before our Father as judgement is passed. Have mercy on us Holy Father, and seat us at your table forevermore!
“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:23-26 ESV
Rich Forbes