Good morning,
The time of our life
We do well to remember that the Lord has a plan for his world and his people that changes back and forth over the years and the plans that God has for each generation. For those of us who can remember what was going on in our world during World War II things were very difficult and dangerous and challenging for most of the people around us. That was a long time ago. As the years have come and gone we have had a period of time when life has become more and more comfortable. It seemed that we were getting a handle on sickness and poverty and success, and even the poor people in America and other parts of the world were feeling life was much more livable. During those earlier years, for those of us who were Christians, we were seeing people all over the world being reached with the gospel and learning to live by God’s standards. It reminds me of the way that we would read the scriptures and would see life from that point of view. King David went through rough times, but he was also able to write things like, The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.(Psa.23:1) He finished that psalm by writing, Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.(v.6) As the years went on he was able to write, The LORD will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.(Psa.138:8) There was some sense of security in that time of life.
Since we began the new century life has really taken a sharp turn. It reminds me of the things that Jeremiah had to face as God’s faithful prophet and servant during his days. God had to remind Jeremiah that, “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?(Jer.17:9) Now people all over the world are being killed because they are Christians or followers of Jesus. Even in America we are finding out that what the Bible tells us as truth, is now being things like Jeremiah heard in his day. People scoff at me and say, “What is this ‘message from the LORD’ you keep talking about? Why don't your predictions come true?”(Jer.17:15) Our laws have been changed so much that talking about the Bible as truth is now considered as an attack on our new and improved values. People then said, “Come on, let's find a way to stop Jeremiah. We have our own priests and wise men and prophets. We don't need him to teach the law and give us advice and prophecies.(18:18) They also said then what the majority of our leaders say today, Let's spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.” Does God see this new boldness of deceit and in your face wickedness? God’s answer is, But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”(17:10) We also can respond like Jeremiah when he said, But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him they will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will be shamed and thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.(20:11) Then Jeremiah did what we need to do and that is to pray to the God we love and serve. He prayed, O LORD Almighty! You know those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Then he finished his prayer by saying, Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.(20:12) Vengeance for the wicked does belongs to the Lord, but we also need to remember that the Lord will work out his plans for our lives, His faithful love really does endure forever.
Psalms 138:8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Roy Wisner
