"Rejoice in the
Lord always, again I will say rejoice" (Philippians 4:4)
We are continuing to experience the most wonderful set
of circumstances right now and I'll share them with you. It may not
sound "wonderful" at first, but we have a great God who delivers us.
(The "regular" sermon scheduled for this week, about the "Blessed Hands"
program of Friday Study Ministries, will be delayed for a week or so.)
The "main" computer of Friday Study Ministries
"crashed" - apparently for good. The second computer came into play
after the first, and was used to send out Bible studies and sermons for
three weeks. That computer went out, too. (We backed-up all of it -
thank You, Father). It won't communicate with the Internet or other
computers and stuff done on it is useless. The laptop is fine and if
you are reading this sermon, it came from the laptop. (Thank You, Lord,
for the laptop).
We have a new computer that was received (Praise Your
Name). The company that shipped it, loaded the wrong software, however,
but then we received more software through UPS. A "tech rep" said the
first software had to be removed before the new could be inserted. Off
we went on the phone together, Jamie the Tech and Ron the Pastor. We
did our best together, in a call that lasted literally hours.
The new computer "died" within that process. We were
urged by the company to work with another man (Vern the Tech). After
three more hours of pulling out cords, re-plugging them, and doing this
and that, Vern told us what we already knew - the hard drive on the new
computer is "bad". That's three computers in three weeks!
The interesting thing about the company is that they
blamed us. "You didn't order the right software", and "it's not our
fault" was not what we needed to hear right now. There is an
interesting and terrible part of humanity, that we tend to "take the
credit" when things are going well and "assign the blame" when they
don't. Many marriages and businesses fail within the areas of "credit"
and "blame". Wars start in much the same way.
We didn't agree with their assessment - why choose the
"small business" division, if we didn't want the "professional"
software? - But, let's talk about REAL life!
Life can be wonderful, even within the WORST of
circumstances. I can't imagine greater troubles than those of Pastor
Dennis Broxton. He was paralyzed. Then his wife died, his son died,
they took his leg, and the final indignity was the "trach" (tracheotomy)
used to save his life - it took his voice (the only thing he had left
from a human perspective). But the "human" way of looking at things
will let you down. This is about the way things are really meant to
be. Let the Spirit touch you, and you will rejoice in the Lord!
As seen in a previous sermon, Pastor Dennis was (and
is) special. In his troubles, he found joy. When we're unhappy because
things aren't the way we want them to be, it's important to see that
much of reality is OUTSIDE of our awareness. Before this world (and our
troubles) began, there was JOY in eternity, because Jesus Christ was
already KING - of everything! Humanity fell, but He won us back on the
cross and we can rejoice in Him right now. His victory on the cross is
greater than any trouble we might have.
When ANYTHING happens to us here on earth, it's only
for a time. If our hopes and dreams seem to "crash", they live on in
the heart and mind of God, who raises the dead. Soon and very soon,
"we're gonna' walk on the other side", as the old song goes, and when we
do, we will have HIS perspective and see things as they really are.
Actually, through His Spirit, we can have that perspective right now.
Peter observed that, to God, "a
thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years"
(2 Peter 3:8, from Psalm 90:4). Your troubles might bed much worse than
mine, but think of this: If your problems last 70-years, 80-years, or
even more, it's just a "moment" in relation to eternity. Right now, we
might reasonably shout, "Have mercy upon me, O God!" In eternity, we
will look upon this time and have a new shout: "Thank You, God, for Your
mercy and grace!"
Dennis Broxton has gone to be with the
Lord, an d has that perspective. "Thank You" are his words right now.
"Praise the Lord," he is shouting - not only because he's walking and
leaping, but especially because he is in the presence of the Lore. And
those that were "lost" are with him right now. "Weeping
may last for the night but joy comes in the morning"
(Psalm 30:5).
Minh, a computer guy, was just sent to
us and he replaced the hard drive in the new computer. He was going to
install the new operating system, but couldn't, because they sent the
wrong software - again! We've had a few problems, but you have to
wonder, why are they so important? And the answer is: They're not,
except that you who are reading this right now are important, and so is
the God who sent us to you. If He sends you and me, we must go, even
when the going seems difficult.
There is a way to truly LIVE, and that
is to "rejoice always"
(Philippians 4:4). Not because of innate "good" in the circumstances,
but because GOD is GOOD and He will see you through. He takes that
which would ruin you, and turns it into something that will help you and
bring glory to His Name. He who is worthy of all your faith, has in
mind that you will find an astonishing trust in Him. You will rejoice
in the Lord.
George Mueller said, "God
delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of
wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be
willing to take them from God's hand as a means. Trials, obstacles,
difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith."
And Hudson Taylor concluded, "All our
difficulties are only platforms for the manifestation of His grace,
power and love." Never
stop praying for His will to be done in YOUR life. And when you know
His call, follow Him to the ends of the earth, and beyond, as He might
lead. For He is wonderful and He loves you and me.
