Hey wait! What am I saying? What about – Giving thanks always (Ephesians 5:20) and – in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because it is God’s will. Am I skating on thin ice?
For myself I need very simple 1+1=2 language. So let’s go back and remind ourselves of our foundational truths.
1. We know that God is totally, forever (Psalms 103:19) absolutely Sovereign. Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass (Lamentations 3:37) if the Lord has not authorized and commanded it?
2. We know that God does not protect Christians (John 16:33) from the results of living in a fallen world.
Think about the years of your life. We’ve all had difficulties, pain and sorrow, etc. But I’m using a much lesser circumstance now – just as an example and because I’m going through it. This wide-spread virus which all of us have endured at some time - my brain is still working and I’m thinking that no sane person could be thankful for feeling this rotten. Be careful! What about the scriptural commands? Hold on and I’ll tell you my secret. I think you already know it – it’s an open secret. First – just by the way, - - do you pause to realize that every time you sit down to a meal, the wonders of Creation are on your plate? O.K. back to our secret.
Even though I’m not thankful for the way I feel, how am I accepting it? How am I viewing it? Aha! That will lead me to the truth of this and any other greater or lesser difficulty.
Focus on the big picture. For anything and everything God sends or allows in my life, He has a purpose. He promised that He would (Philippians 1:6) continue His good work in me. He also told me that He would miss nothing – and leave nothing out – but would use everything – all things in my life (Romans 8:28-29) to make me like Jesus. For His working – His purpose – His victory I can be and am truly thankful. Why? Because it’s all for my benefit and is the confirmation of the wisdom of God’s love.
No phony hypocrisy pretending that I’m thankful to feel lousy – or thankful for the loss of sight and hearing in one ear. But thankful for the impossible deeds I do each day – thankful that I never doubt His wisdom or His love – thankful for the guarantee of my security in His Sovereignty. Whatever happens it’s all part of the “all things” in which God works for my sanctification. Certainly I’d rather have the Lord’s shaping, molding, refining than sight or hearing. I realize how incredibly valuable is the eternal over the temporary. Is that all there is to it? No – I got a wonderful thought from the Holy Spirit and my joy bumps and goose bumps danced together.
Joseph was not thankful for the pit when he was thrown into it. But when he became prime minister, he was thankful for the pit because he realized - - no pit – no palace! When we arrive at the palace of our King, I think it will be our “pits” that fill us with praise and thanksgiving to God. For obedient Christians the GOOD thing about all the bad things is that those very things are the evidence that God is presently, actively working to restore me fully to the Divine Image and He won’t stop throughout my lifetime.
In the meantime if I am truly thankful for God’s work in my “all things”, where will it lead me?
Jesus Christ became a curse for me personally – for me, Jennie. Why – to keep me out of hell? No! I wasn’t worth it. Why then?
Oswald Chambers – “When the Spirit of God has shed abroad (Roman 5:5) the love of God in our heart we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interest in other people and Jesus is interested in every kind of person there is. We have no right to be guided by personal affinities. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my FRIEND. Not for a cause but for Him and His interests in other people. The purpose is that Jesus Christ can help Himself to my life and I have no ends of my own to serve. If I am in love with Jesus my devotion to Him will make all sacrifice a delight”
Just think of WHO HE is – and the astounding privilege and priceless gifts that He would share with us. His interests in other people and expresses through us His love for them. I cannot begin to grasp or hold in my bursting heart the unfathomable scope of the Atonement. Ponder the grace of God - - we can become so one with the Triune God that His heart is in our prayers - - plus Dr. C Stanley the excitement of being tuned in to Almighty God!!
Do you have a memory of a moment of such sheer beauty that it makes you pause whenever you think of it? Probably we all have some. I have one that has been predominant in my thoughts for the past few days and I have an urge to share it with you.
More than 60 years ago Al and I were staying at his sister’s cottage. We had been out fishing and now it was dark and we were heading back across the lake. The night was still, there was no sound but the dipping of the oars into the water. The radiant moon painted a broad path of moonlight across the lake. We actually rowed along that golden path as we headed for the dock. It was a night of beauty and mystery. Whenever I remember and picture it now, I feel a sense of stillness and longing wonder. That golden path now is in my heart but it doesn’t lead to a dock – it leads to Jesus.
That moonlight Painter is the same God Who wants to share with us His interests in others and from His great heart to express through us His light and love for others. The beauty and mystery we sometimes feel when the awe of Creation overwhelms us, is the expression of the beauty and mystery which is in God Himself.
“Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee and Thy beauty fills my soul”
If ever you are tempted to feel ‘down’ – remember (John 14:3) because General MacArthur was not the first one to say - - I shall return.
