Triumph in Destruction

Matthew 6:19-20 

 19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is a photo I snapped from among the rubble  in Winston County last week. When I see things like this it makes me think of the parable Jesus told about the houses on the rock and the sand. The wise man built his house on the rock and when the storms of life came his house stood still. The foolish man built his house on the sand and the storms of life blew it down. Whoever wrote this message on that door has shown us all that his/her house is built on the rock. God is good!

Praising Him Daily,

Sullivan Jones

Is God good?

I know the phrase "God is good" has become almost a cliche to some of us. We use it so much that we say it automatically. Sometimes it is almost as if we are trying to convince ourselves of his goodness. Yet we continue to say it, partly because we believe it most of the time, and partly because we are expected to say it.

But is God really good? (Don't throw stones yet, please). Is God good when everything is going wrong in my life? Is God still good when I don't understand why he lets things happen? What about when a loved dies young or a Christian is murdered? Wasn't God supposed to protect them? These are valid questions and I don't believe God minds us asking.

Several years ago a close friend was taken from me at only 19 years of age. He was in the prime of life. There were so many things we didn't understand. Why God, seemed to be the only prayer I could form. Yet God did send an answer in his time. The answer he gave me is from Isaiah chapter 57, verse 1. The scripture says:

"The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."

When I read these words I remembered something. God is the giver and taker of all life. He understands things that none of us can understand. The prophet is reminding us here that God can see the future. And when the righteous are taken from us (especially when it seems too soon) we can rejoice that they are taken away from the evil that is to come. Their battles are over. They are eternally in the presence of God and need never face another heartache. 

This life is full of troubles and woes. Unfortunately, because of Adam and Eve's sin, death has entered the world and the heartache that goes along with it. But the grave is not the final resting place for a child of God. The hope of the Christian is found in I Thessalonians 4: 15-18

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The hope of the Christian is the resurrection (rapture) of the church. Though troubles may come in this world, God has not left us without a promise. He will come again and receive us unto himself. This is the only thing worth living for. The promise of His return! 

So, I ask again. Is God good? He most certainly is? 

Looking for Jesus,

Sullivan Jones 

Living Epistles

Imagine with me that an auctioneer holds up a tattered book to see if by chance anyone will bid on it. There are a few laughs when an older gentleman bids on and buys the book. Why would anyone want an old dog-eared copy of a book that is falling apart. What the audience doesn't know is that the gentleman owns 9 copies of a  ten set series of priceless children's stories. This book is number ten. Though the volume is in rough condition he is sure that it can be rebound and made to look as beautiful as the other nine, completing his collection. 

The Apostle Paul said, "You are our epistles, written in our hearts, known and read by all men" (II Corinthians 3:2). We could substitute the word book for the word epistle in this verse. What does it mean? Our lives, like this book, are telling a story. The story that is read is different for each of us. Life has a way of dictating the story. You may feel today like the novel of your life is an old dog-eared copy that is falling apart. But God is the master book binder and he can place the pages of your life back together and rebind them. Not only that, but if there are pages missing, he can rewrite those. 

All of our lives are telling a story. Not one of us is exempt from wanting to know how the story will end. Will we be a best seller or a worn out copy in a junk shop somewhere? The answer most often depends on the author. The number one determining factor for the worth of a book is the author. If the author is well known and liked then  the book will be worth more. If the author was unknown or mediocre then, chances are, the book will be worth very little, no matter the age. If we try to write our own stories we may end up like the old dog-eared copy in this story. If we allow God to write upon the pages of our lives then we will be an invaluable asset to his library. 

Perhaps today you feel as if your life is empty and meaningless. You may feel that the story of your life is going nowhere. Or perhaps you feel like you are the book that is falling apart. The story inside is beautiful but the circumstances of life have caused your binding to come apart so that no one can appreciate what you really have to contribute. If you will trust God to do so, he can put your life back together. It doesn't matter how long or short your story is, if you will give your pen to God, he can rewrite the story of your life. After all, he is the master author. 

Sullivan Jones