Then What?

There are some truths we know because God has revealed them. If the Bible had not revealed them, we would never know. As exciting as these discoveries are, they always bring up more questions.

In I Thessalonians, chapter 4, we learn a lot about the last day on earth. We learn about what happens to those who ‘die in the Lord’; that we will meet Him in the clouds; that we will always be with the Lord; and that these promises should comfort us. Although this scripture answers many questions, it does not answer all of them.

 We don’t know how God does it. We don’t know when He will do it. So what do we do? Well, we trust Him.

I heard of a believer who was dying. His best friend was not a man of faith. He had come to visit his dying friend and was surprised that his Christian friend had so much peace. “How can you be so calm? You are dying. You don’t know what will happen! There are so many questions; how can you be at peace?” His Christian friend said, “Do you hear that scratching on the door? That is my dog. He has never been in this room nor has he even looked into this room. He has no idea what will happen to him if he comes in here, yet he wants in here because he knows I’m in here.”

I don’t know everything about the hereafter. My list of questions gets longer and longer but I know who is waiting for me. I know He loves me and I know He has conquered death. So, I am like that dog; whining and scratching and not afraid. Like David, I can say “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for thou art with me.”

O Lord, I praise Your name. You created life. You conquered death and You promised me eternal life. I use words like eternal but I do not understand. Thank You for Your love and those amazing promises. Even though I do not understand most of Your promises, I ask for more information. I want information. I need faith. I’m sorry. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for Your love. Thank You for life. In the name of Your Son who is life, I pray. Amen.

Paul Shero

San Angelo, Texas

Quick, Slow, Slow Again!

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.” - James 1:19-21

Relationships are paramount in our existence – relationships with family members, friends, co-workers, etc. When I read this passage, relationships are the first thing that comes to my mind. People just don’t do everything that we want them to. Sometimes they are unable to do it. Sometimes what we want is the wrong thing. Sometimes our expectations are unreasonable. And sometimes they should be doing what we would like them to be doing, but they don’t. Sometimes they actively pursue those things which they know are not in our best interests – that might harm us. Most of the time, this evokes a negative response from us. We want things our way. If not, get out of our way because we are on the war path!

This is wrong. We should listen, then be quiet. (There is a reason that God gave us two ears and one mouth!) The major problem for us is that we are quick to speak! That’s why we get ourselves into trouble – we are quick to anger because we are quick to speak. In the initial burst of emotion, we should be silent. This delay would greatly limit our fits of anger. Our anger is not godly. When we respond to someone with rage, we are not fulfilling the responsibilities that God has laid out for us. It’s not God’s way for us.

Anger is a very difficult emotion. It’s obviously tough to get a handle on for a lot of us! We can help ourselves by diving into God’s word. By getting into Word and surrendering to what the Spirit gives us we can learn how to reduce our explosive moments – perhaps even rid ourselves of them completely. In their place, we receive that which God requires of us in meekness. Prayer is also a major resource for us – let go and let God.

Father, please help us. Many of us are quick to anger – help us to rectify this. Help us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Grant us peace and an understanding of what your will for us is. Help us to let go of the things that we can’t control. Forgive us when we fail you. It’s through your son and our savior we pray, amen.

Casey Dacus

Graham, TX

Tie a String Aound Your Finger

When my mother moved to town, one of the first things she wanted was a city map.  “I want to know where all the bad things are happening when I watch TV or read the paper,” she said.  Those few words expressed poignantly how most of us feel about the stability of our environment, the security of our government, the solvency of our assets, and the safety of those we love.

When you feel paralyzed by fear or alone in your desolation, open your Bible to Psalms.  It’s the 16th book in the Old Testament.  This is a hymnbook of Hebrew poetry where mankind talks to God and God answers.  It is as powerful and beautiful today as it was in ancient times.

In Psalm 77 the writer is in such distress he can neither eat nor sleep.  In Psalm 42 his soul is dying of thirst from lack of Godly fellowship.  All he can do is cry.  In 43 he’s so oppressed by his enemies that his bones “suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

It isn’t uncommon to wonder if God’s unfailing love has vanished forever, or if he’s forgotten to be merciful or if, in his anger, he’s withholding his compassion (77:8, 9), and in this earthly body our souls will sometimes be downcast.  At times like these, we can do what the psalmist did:  

“Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal:  The years of the right hand of the Most High.  I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds’” (77:10); and,  “Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise [Hebrew todah – thanks] him, my Savior and my God.” (42:5, 11 & 43:5).

When we feel helpless and afraid, and when we are bursting with joy and thanksgiving, a string around our finger – figuratively or literally – will remind us where our Hope lies.

God, you are my joy and my delight, and with the music of my heart I praise you, through Christ, amen. 

Sandra Milholland

Abilene, Texas