Friday, July 29, 2016

Struggle, Struggle, Toil, and Struggle

Have you ever worked hard on a particular day only to be hit with more bad news from the world? It seems that the more we toil and struggle, the more toils and struggles there are to face. I'm not sure why that should surprise those who believe in Christ. The time of never ending bliss is not in this here and now, but in a place and time where Jesus will take us. Here and now we have this promise of trouble or tribulation, but with His peace. We have tribulation, but He commanded us to be of good cheer. How very odd. Should not more toils and struggles bring a dour expression with a pessimistic outlook on life?

That's it; I got no more for you this morning... I quit!

Nope, that isn't the answer either. As I can tell you from experience in this life, quitting will only pile up the toils and struggles like savings accounts once piled up interest. If you were born in this century you may not get that simile, but trust us older folks that savings accounts were once good things to have. Trying to quit while the Lord is trying to move us forward just doesn't work. A Job time of sitting in the ashes dressed in sackcloth may come for a season, but God seems to like people to get up and face Him. This is a little hard to do if you quit. Therefore, Jesus gave us the following verse; one I like to recall many a time:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Mmm, yes, the comforting words of our Lord!

Bucky

No comments: