A TRUTH SMORGASBOARD

There is SO MUCH in today’s One Year Bible Reading! How is it possible to choose one thing upon which to comment?!?

Job said, “Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping” (12:5). How often do we look upon those who are facing difficult struggles and think similarly? Our disposition ought to be compassion and mercy but often is a belief that ‘they deserve what they get.’ Jesus’ heart is different – He said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Mt. 23:37).

And Job also said, “Mortals…are of few days and full of trouble.” (14:1) We too often listen to our culture and believe we have a right to face a pain-free, ‘Disneyland-type’ of existence. Jesus’ heart proposes, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy…” (Lk. 6:22-23).

Paul writes to the Corinthians, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’” (1 Cor. 15:32). The Bible is truth. If Jesus has not been raised, then we are wasting our lives. Jesus teaches, “Let not your hearts be troubled….I will come again and receive you to Myself!” (Jn. 14:1-3).

The psalmist wrote, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is” (Ps. 39:4). We all have a shelf-life and none of us are here long. God’s Word states, “…they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Pt. 4:5)

One final quote the truth of which we have recently experienced: “If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they devastate the land.” (Job 12:15) AMEN!