“Why are you in despair O my soul? And why have you
become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the
help of His presence.” -
Psalm 42:5
The reconciliation provided
by Jesus was given to us, but also to those who lived before Him. God put the
penalty of their sin on “layaway” and forgave everyone who put their trust in
Him, in the same way that He forgives us today. God revealed His righteousness
to men and women throughout the ages. Once they recognized the holiness of God,
they realized their sinful state and how wrecked they actually were. They also comprehended that those that they lived
around were as sinful as they were. Isaiah is one such example (Isaiah
6:3). Once Isaiah repented, God took away
his guilt and atoned for his sin, just like He does for us (Isaiah
6:7).
Then, after Isaiah repented
of his sinful life, God revealed His will to him. The prophet responded with
the legendary words, “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah had no idea what encumbrances and turmoil lay
ahead of him, but he knew that he could trust the living Lord. We have this
same confidence, as we follow God’s will for our life each moment of the day.
Isaiah had trial and triumphs, just like we do. He remained faithful to God’s
calling throughout all of his life. We have this same privilege. God gives us
His grace and provides for all of our needs, as we trust in His will and His
timing.
God also gives us His
anointing to accomplish what He calls us to do (2 Corinthians 9:8). Yet, so many refuse to respond to God’s call on their
life. They put so much time and effort into providing for their temporal needs
that they forget the importance of the eternal needs in their life and in the
lives of all of those God wants them to influence. Our life is but a vapor (James
4:14), a fading flower, withering grass
and a fleeting shadow (1 Peter 1:24; Job 14:2). The seasons of our life change as quickly as the
seasons of the year, although we are not always ready to face the changes time
brings our way.
We start in the springtime
of our life, growing and learning through the excitement of school days with
family and friends. We live through the fiery trials of summertime with a
mundane job, the pain of childbirth, love found and possibly even lost again,
as well as dissatisfaction from what we failed to accomplish and mourning the
loss of our youth. Then we have the contented autumn of the golden years of our
life. We see joy in the little things that we were previously too busy to
notice. We have less, but we know it is really more. So quickly life slips into
the bareness of winter with an aging body, the loss of energy and drive, fears
of dying and the ache of losing family and friends too soon.
Through every season of
life, faith and confidence in God’s loving kindness sees us through the
valleys, as well as the climb up the mountains on the other side. He gives us a
future and a hope that brings multiple blessings into our life (Jeremiah
29:11). We can encourage our soul through
every season, just as King David did through his colorful lifetime (Psalm
42:5). He lived a life of praise to God,
and relished the fact that God inhabited his praises (Psalms 22:3). Isaiah
lived in the will of God for his whole life, living it to the fullest measure
of the anointing of God. God asks this same commitment from all of us.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, although our
life is fraught with heart-rending trials, our hope in Your faithfulness
endures. Remind us of the benefits of serving You so that our heart will not
grow cold in these last days. Help us to grow spiritually and to mature into
God’s children as we share in Your inheritance. Remind us to consider the
trials we face with joy, because we know that our growing faith will help us to
endure to the end of our life. This perseverance will do its perfect work until
we are mature and complete, lacking no good thing because of Your love (James 1:
2-4).
Thought for the Day:
The truth that life is
temporary puts eternity into its proper perspective.
