:: To Worship Him ::

 

   “We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever.  So comfort and encourage each other with these words.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

 

   I suppose it is not surprising the different emotions that the word death brings.  For some people it is even hard to say the word.  It seems so final, and we all know that far too many

have fear of death because they are not prepared in their minds.  It is the unknown, and if truth was known, most people have some questions about the unknown.  For those who are truly trusting Christ, there should be no fear of death because He has conquered death for us. 

 

   Bill Bright told the story of a pastor visiting an elderly woman who had lived through much adversity.  In the end she outlived the doctor who had described her condition as terminal many years earlier.  Her advantage was her contagious confidence in the Lord.  When she was asked about death, she responded that she was not afraid of death and did not dwell on it.  She preferred to concentrate on the promise of Christ’s return.  She said, “I’m not looking for the undertaker,” she exclaimed confidently.  “I’m looking for the Uppertaker!”

 

   Marvelous thinking!  Even Bill Bright said “Maybe the Uppertaker may come and get him before the undertaker does.”  That would be even better, huh?  Either way, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  (Romans 14:8)  That is certainly the main thing!  When we are properties of the Lord, where’s the sting of death?

 

   “Here’s the scenario,” the instructor announced to his class of novice truck drivers.  “You’re in an 18-wheeler with a heavy load, barreling down a mountainous two-lane highway.  Ed, your co-driver, is asleep.  There are six trucks behind you, and as you come over the top of a hill, they pull our beside you to pass.  Suddenly, you see several trucks coming in the opposite direction, pulling into your lane to pass.  What would you do?”  “That’s simple,” a student called out.  “I’d wake up Ed.”  “Why would you do that?”  asked the instructor.  “Because,” replied the student, “Ed ain’t never seen a truck wreck like this before!”

 

   Duh!  Just a funny, but that is about the size of our reasoning we have some days.  As I was walking this morning, bright and early, I passed two of my neighbors that walk religiously every morning.  As we looped and I passed them again as they were ending their walk, I questioned them about their routine.  They said that years ago they decided that an early morning walk was the best thing that they could do for themselves.  Good girls!  I admired their steadfastness.  In reality I know there are better things that they could do but certainly the physical walk is high up on the list. 

 

   The Word teaches, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  (Matthew 6:33) 

 

   My commitment is to continue my early morning walk.  I may not go as far as my neighbors do, but I will be meditating on certain Scriptures and fellowshipping with the Lord as I go.  Then I am truly doing two of the most important things.  What a way to start the day!

 

 

 

   “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

   We are busy people.  We are always in a hurry.  We are impatient people.  Where is the days when we could sit on the front porch in the evening and have a conversation with a friend or loved one?  We rush here and there, and we wonder where the day has gone when we finally retire.  I’m like you, I hate waiting!

 

   We read in the Word where there was a man by the name of Jairus.  He was a well-known, powerful, wealthy individual who was the leader of his local synagogue.  He had only one child.  When she was 12 years old she became ill and he frantically sought out Jesus to come and heal her.  We are not told whether Jairus was a believer or not, but he knew where to go for help for he had heard about Jesus.  He believed that Jesus could save his daughter’s life, so he went to the place where Jesus was and begged Him to come and heal his daughter.  In the meantime there was another need that Jesus must meet.  That was the need of the woman who came along and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.  She was desperately reaching out for Jesus’ help.  Naturally He responded.  He always responded to faith.   Jesus eventually went with Jairus to his home.  On the way he received word that his daughter had indeed died.  We note here that Jairus did not turn to Jesus and say, “If you would have come with me when I asked, she wouldn’t have died!”  Jairus did not complain.  Rather, he committed himself to Jesus, believing that the Lord knew what He was doing.  And at some point the child was healed. 

 

   The lesson is, Jairus had to wait as we have to wait.  As I said before, we are impatient people and we carry that also into our relationship with God.  We pray and we want immediate action.  And too often, when we pray and the answer doesn’t come immediately, we take the situation into our own hands.  When this happens we make things worse.  Not good!  How about us slowing down today?  There are roses to smell, friends and loves ones to touch, and our Lord is also waiting for us.  Our appointment with Him is the most important one of the day.  Let’s not miss it! 

 

   Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart.  I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

 

   I know that most of us have questioned at one time or another these words Jesus spoke.  “I know, Lord, that you said that you are in charge, but right now in the midst of this turmoil, I want to believe.  Lord, help my unbelief!”

 

   It is so easy to look around and see the trouble in this world.  It is certainly not limited to the Middle East or on the streets of some of our cities.  It is not confined to corruption in our government or in our major league sports.  I think Jesus was saying in this passage that trouble hits us where we are, where we live, and often it hits us when we least expect it and are prepared for it.  Sometimes it ‘blind sides’ us.  Trouble can come in many forms.  Illness, a child with a special need, depressed friends, financial troubles, and you name it.  It can cause us to question our commitments, lose our focus, and reel from the blow.  Sometimes it can even cause one to wander away from their relationship with the Lord.  I know that it can certainly drain our energy, cause us to look within to our strength, rather than the Lords help, and I have witnessed some turning away from friends that can be of help to them.  In reality, trouble can overwhelm us, blind us, confuse us, and defeat us if we focus only on ourselves and our trouble.

 

    We are not to be alone in the midst of trouble.  We are not to give in to the enemy in our battles.  If he can get us down, keep us down, then we are incapable of overcoming.  Jesus said,

 

   I read a story about James McDougall who lived in Scotland.  He was interning as a pastor for a large church in that country.  He was given the opportunity to preach one Sunday and prepared what he thought was an exceptionally fine sermon.  In seminary he had been quite successful in all his classes, especially those concerned with the deliver of sermons.  He had often been commended for his fine presence, strong voice, and eloquence in his delivery.  So, with great confidence and a visible air of self-assurance he entered the pulpit that morning, knowing he would make a good impression on the congregation.  But, no sooner did he open his mouth to speak than he realized that he had completely lost his composure.  He could not remember either his text or his subject.  He mind was erased clean, so he stammered, and murmured, and proceeded to make a fool of himself in front of the congregation.  When the torment was over, he turned and made his way off the platform with slumped shoulders and head hung low in humility.  In the hush that followed, one wise elder of the church sitting near the front was heard to say, “Aye laddie, if ye had gone up as ye came doon, you’d have come doon as ye went up.”

 

   Life has it’s ways of teaching us lessons.  Sometimes they are painful and humiliating.  Hopefully we learn in any case.  Today, on the news, they are talking about one of our country’s starlets being in trouble again.  She was caught driving under the influence of alcohol the second time and with possession of drugs.  Poor girl!  She has not learned her lesson.  She has not learned what James taught that; “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  (James 4:14) 

 

   Youth has its problems as well as us adults.  Youth believes as the young ‘would be’ pastor who was so confident of his success.  I love positive thinking, the ‘can-do’ spirit, but I have fallen too many times on my face to know that we are at some point in our lifespan going to learn lessons in humility. I suppose the earlier the better.  Point is, life is too short, as James says.  It is always dangerous for us to take credit for what God has given us the ability to do.  He warns that He will not share His glory with another.  We must be careful to not forget and be obedient to the desires of our God.  If we have any talent, and we all do, then we owe our thanks to the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Life is too short not to have a humble and grateful heart!