Time To Consider This.

All evidence seems to point to the fact that King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. The word comes from the Greek word meaning the person who calls an assembly. In the first verse of the first chapter, the writer fittingly identifies himself as preacher, and later on as the ‘son of David, king in Jerusalem’. (1:16). The book itself tells the tale of one who looks back on life with regrets, having lived to his pleasure but now realizing that it was all vanity. While the author had accomplished much in terms of wisdom, pleasure and work, he takes a retrospective look later in life and cautions his readers that a better, simpler life, lived under the guidance of God, was worth far more than any earthly gain. It is from his learned wisdom that we get today’s watchword. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. Ecc 7: 14.

The message of the text is clear.. One would think that a statement such as ‘in good times be happy’ would be followed by ‘in bad times be sad’, but no. The preacher states that when times get bad, we should consider the fact that both the good and the bad comes from God. Now do not get me wrong. I am not saying that evil comes from God. The Bible teaches that evil is of the devil. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us however, that when we become followers of Jesus Christ no evil will befall us. What we do have is a promise of God’s presence. ‘I will be with you to the end of the age’. Matt 28: 20. Our God will never leave us nor forsake us but will stand by us even through the worst of times. David said this in Psalm 23: 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. The same God who is with us through the best of times is even more so with us through the worst of times. The God who hears our laughter and praise also hears our sorrows and tears. The same God who knows our celebrations and joys also knows our heartaches and pains. He is with us through them all. It’s worth considering this at a time when for many, happiness has been lost, joys have been stolen, and sorrows have crept in on us.

The message of the text is incomplete however if we do not also look at that last statement. Since we cannot control the good and the bad, since we cannot cause all good things to happen to us or all bad to happen for those who we dislike or those who are our haters, it forces us to recognize that we have no control over what happens to us, no control over our future. Brazilian author Paulo Coelho states, ‘the future belongs to God, and it is only He who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances.’ These are indeed extraordinary times in which we are living, and we have no certainty of the future. We all know or know of, people who have passed since January who were expecting to be alive and well today. Indeed, the preacher is correct when he says we cannot discover anything about our future. What we can do however is recognize who has control of the future. Because God is in control of all things, it means that we need not fear the bad times since God will be with us through it all. In these COVID-19 times we notice that the desperation and wickedness of humanity has not taken a break. We still wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The only protection we have against all that is happening is the power and presence of God with us. Consider this then friends, the God who allowed us to enjoy the good moments, is with us through these times of sickness and disease. We should remember we are not alone. He will see us through. He is not only a God of the good times, but a God for all times. Amen.
[5:45 AM, 10/21/2020] Jermaine Gibson: Moravian Daily Texts

Wednesday, October 21 — Psalm 119:57–64
2 Samuel 13:34–14:33; John 8:42–59

Suddenly an angel touched Elijah and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to the mount of God. 1 Kings 19:5,8

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Lord, our bodies are frail. Some days we get so tired that we do not think we can work for you. Remind us that you are always with us—strengthening and feeding our souls. Then we can finish the tasks you have given us. Amen.

Monday Reflection – October 19, 2020
From the Archives #3
 
Prelude:
I continue sharing from the Archives for this month of October. I share with us the reflection of October 16, 2017.

Reflection
Temporary vs Eternal

 (Greetings on this National Heroes Day in Jamaica. We pause to remember today our national heroes and heroine who sacrificed all to help in the process towards our emancipation and independence. We also recognize our present heroes, some of whom will receive their national awards today. Let’s not forget our unsung heroes who have and continue to give of their all in service to their fellow human beings.) 

Last Tuesday, the USA football team failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, the first since 1986. Trinidad and Tobago defeated them 2-1. This was shocking to many, to say the least. It was as if USA occupied a permanent place at the Football World Cup finals. This brought home forcefully the reality that we can become so accustomed to some things and persons that we start believing they are permanent. What a danger!

Today’s Daily Watchword provides a stark reminder: 
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like gnats. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Isaiah 51:6

Scholars say that Isaiah 51 is part of Second Isaiah. It was written near the end of the Babylonian captivity, in a time when most of the Israelite exiles would have been born in captivity, never having seen Jerusalem. They would have spent their lives in servitude, and would be tempted to believe that Yahweh has either abandoned them or is not sufficiently powerful to help them.  It is a time of minimum hope and maximum temptation to follow after other gods. 

The emphasis in chapter 51 is comfort and encouragement. There are the promises that God will transform Israel’s wilderness into an Eden-like garden (v. 3), the people will find joy and gladness (v. 3), justice (v. 4) and salvation (v. 5). It also assures the people that the salvation that God offers, unlike the transient world with its ups and downs, is forever (v. 6). The heavens above, the earth beneath, and all that lives upon the earth are but for the moment. They will exist for a period of time, and then they will die. The heavens will vanish like smoke and the earth will wear out like an old pair of work clothes. The living things will die like gnats (flies).  

It is sometimes difficult for us to imagine that everything that we consider real will one day vanish. It is even difficult for us to contemplate our own death, even though we say “The only certainty in life are death and taxes.”  But we see it happen all around us every day – funeral homes have a steady clientele; hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes sweep away entire towns; fires destroy houses and cities, and the list goes on. Nothing in this life is permanent.

BUT God’s salvation is eternal and his righteousness which Christ has secured for his people, and by which they are justified, is everlasting. They shall not be broken, they answer all the demands of law and justice, stand firm against all the accusations and charges of men and devils, and shall not fail. Only God and his finished work of salvation and his guaranteed righteousness are eternal.

The text offers two thoughts:
Challenge – We must recognize that everything in life is transient, temporary and some trivial. Nothing lasts forever. Therefore, it is foolish to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, we should lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20).

Comfort – We also receive a word of comfort that the challenges and pain we feel today are temporary, for joy will come in the morning. The aches, heartaches, sorrow, grief and burdens are temporary; they too shall pass. We learn the lessons of the present for the greater work God has in store for us in the future.

Prayer from the Daily Text:
Dear God, thank you for salvation through the obedience of you son, Jesus who is the Christ. Thank you for the preparations that have been made for us. Praise you for our deliverance from death and destruction. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Till next week, anchor your lives in the Lord. 

Jermaine Gibson

Saturday Reflection – 17 October 2020

“So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12

This was the second time, Moses had journeyed up the mountain, where he would again receive the Ten Commandments and deliver them to the children of Israel. We can remember that the first time Moses received the commandments, the people had turned to idolatry and worshipped a golden calf. When Moses saw this, he was so angry that he dropped the tablets of stone and they broke. This time, after the cleansing of the nation Israel, punishment and continued journey, Moses received a second pair of tablets bearing the commandments of the Lord.

This time the text records the question being asked – “…What does the LORD your God require of you? It is interesting because at this point – they had suffered the consequences for their sin and Moses was again instructed to lead the people to the promised land. It was God’s mercy being poured out upon his beloved, an though he gives the commandments to the people, he gives them the foundation and summation of their righteous living. That which he requires from his people.

Often times, we face this same question, having been saved from sin, washed in the blood of the Lamb and filled with the Holy Spirit. We may be at the same place where the children of Israel were, contemplating their next step as they journey to the promised land. So, what does the Lord require of us? We hear the answer in today’s watchword – “…Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” This can be said to be the total measure of Christian living.

In the answer, we see four main factors arising that sum up our Christian living. And all four flow into each other. For the foundation is to fear God. Proverbs 9:10 says that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” In this Holy Fear, we are mindful of the watchful eyes and ears of God who guide us along the right path. Because we are mindful, then we seek to know his word and precepts and to obey them. Then we will seek to discern the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and obey the Holy Spirit. And because we love him, knowing that he first loved us and died for us. We then in response would now love him and serve him. Now then, when we develop that Holy Fear, then we will walk in all his ways, and will love him and will serve him with our all, because we know, how he has called us to live, and what he has called us to do. But that Holy Fear will drive us, in our love for God to put our best foot forward so that we may honour and glorify God. And when we stumble, we become mindful and contrite, which lead us to seek his forgiveness and restoration, so that we lead repentant lives.

God’s call to us as his children is simply this – fear him, understand that he is God – a just, righteous and good God who has called us righteous living. Seek to honour and glorify God. We honour and glorify God, by living as God called us to and serving God, that as we become disciples of Christ, we go and make other disciples. Yes, we reminded by the Lord Jesus “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (St. Matthew 5:16) And James brings this out, in today’s doctrinal text – that we honour and glorify God by doing what he has called us to do. We have called to “…be doers of the word, and not merely hearers.” (James 1:22)

Until next week, let us continue to reflect on where we are, in fulfilling that which the Lord requires of us. May that Holy Fear burn within us, that we may walk in his ways, and may love and serve him with our very all. I leave you with the words of the prophet Micah, who put the same thought another way: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, NIV) Amen.

Dominic J. Blair