Tuesday Reflection October 20, 2020

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.