It is good that there is One who is always the same, and who is always with us. It is good that there is one stable Rock amid the waves of the sea of life. Oh, my soul, don’t set your affections on the rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures of this earth, but on Jesus, who is forever faithful to you. Don’t build your house on the quicksand of a deceitful world, but found your hopes on this Rock, which amid pouring rain and roaring floods will stand secure and immovable. My soul, I urge you, lay up your treasure in the only secure place; store your jewels where you can never lose them. Put everything in Christ—set all your affections on His person, all your hope in His merit, all your trust in His effective blood, all your joy in His presence—and then you can laugh at loss and defy destruction. Remember that all the flowers of this world’s garden will fade in time, and the day will come when nothing is left but the cold, dark earth. Death’s black breath must soon extinguish your candle. But oh, how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon roll between you and all that you have, so join your heart to the One who will never leave you. Trust yourself to the One who will go with you through the surging current of death’s stream, who will land you safely on the heavenly shore and make you sit with Him in heavenly places forever. Go, you sorrowing child of affliction, tell your secrets to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Trust all your concerns to the One who never can be taken from you, who will never leave you, and who will never let you leave Him. He is Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “I am with you always.” It is enough for my soul to live on, no matter who else might forsake me. - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
In this world these days it's incredibly hard not to focus on what we no longer have or can do. Frustration mounts. People of all walks of life vent in public or through social media. Their largest concerns seem to go unanswered. All these governmental suggestions that now have repercussions are pushing people towards considering giving up their rights to gain some semblance of freedom. The loneliness eats at them bit by bit. The not being heard by the people who should be listening eats at them.
My friend there's still One who hears, and listens. As a passage reads from the Old Testament, some may trust in horses some may trust in chariots but we will trust in the name of our God. Where is your trust? Did you only come to Christ thinking that it was only going to be health, wealth and prosperity? Didn't you read the rest of your Bible?
Jesus promised never to leave us nor forsake us. If there wasn't going to be a future whereas we wouldn't facing situations where life wasn't going to go how we planned, there would be no need for this promise!
He promised to be with us always...because we would be facing loneliness, would be facing rejection by family and friends. Would be facing hard times as well as good times. To be real here, look at your Bible. More often than not Israel got in more trouble with sin in their times of peace than they did in times of war. You think you will be any different?
When King David was focused on what God wanted and was following through, things were well between him and the Lord. When he drifted and wasn't, Bathsheba happened. Sin took hold and murder happened. Two died because of David. Three if you count Absolom because David's actions brought about his son's death too.
.
Read in Psalms about David's loneliness. He was the King of Israel and faced it. Even with his mighty men he was alone much of the time.
We will be no different. We will need that kind, loving ear of Jesus at all times of our lives. We don't invite Christ into our lives only to put Him in a room...only allowing Him out when we are in distress.
In the year or so of reading Spurgeon's book it's really something on his heart about Christianity and the lack of people getting what life as a Child of God is all about.
Jesus is the cure for loneliness. But more than that, as Scripture says He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
He is and always should be the first we go to talk to about anything and everything.
Letting go of our sin our shame and guilt. Letting go of bitterness, despair and disappointment. Letting go of everything that isn't found in Christ.
He knows what hurts each and every one of us. But will not force Himself into our situations. We can't grow in trust without trusting Him and His solutions to what ails us.
Sure our world is turned on its edge.
Sure Scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes.
Sure we long for what is not happening anymore.
But my friend, my dear reader, Jesus wouldn't be the friend and Savior He is, if He left us the way He found us. To be His workmanship means obediently allowing what He brings into our lives to change us to be more like Him.
You wouldn't go to a Doctor, to know that he or she accurately diagnosed our problems, only to tell them we'll take it under consideration and go on as if nothing was going to happen. Regardless of what we feel we go through what is necessary to be brought back to a semblance of normalcy.
Why would you be any different towards Jesus? To walk closely with Him is what we are to do. To learn and lean on Him in all times of our lives. Peter only sank in the water when his eyes were off Jesus.
Pour out your heart to God. Quit holding it in. And certainly quit going to other people BEFORE you go to Jesus about anything!
It's like having access to a physician who has never misdiagnosed anyone yet deciding to use someone off the street instead. Jesus wondered if He would find the faith when He returns. So where is yours? In the mechanizations of this physical world, or the people in it, or is your focus on Jesus first? He may indeed use people and things of this world to answer you but START with Him.
Begin your day with Jesus. Start your conversation of life today with your Savior.
Ask Him to clean your heart. To do what is necessary to get your heart in order. Obey and if necessary get out of His way.
Open up the room where you may have thought you put Him. Ask forgiveness for doing that to Him. If you really want to address your loneliness start with Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment