Man found dead on Freeway,” said the headline of the newspaper. I was there. I saw him. Red flares ahead warned me to slacken speed as I drove along the freeway in the early morning darkness. A trucker motioned me on advising me to stay in the right lane. As I passed slowly by, I saw a man laying on the freeway, barefooted. Asleep ? No, dead. The ambulance arrived minutes later. No identification, about 19-22 years old, possibly fallen from the back of a pick-up, the paper said. Who was he? What were his aspirations in life? Did he have any? Whatever his intentions might have been, it was too late now. The thought that kept running through my brain was: It could be me!
Life is short and death is final—unless, unless of course we have hope of a resurrection through Jesus Christ, our Lord. But it could have been me, it will be me and it will be you unless we are fortunate to be alive when Jesus comes. Does the imminence of death seem depressing? It ought not. As I thought of the young man whose life was cut short, I thanked God that I was still alive. Do we really appreciate — are we truly thankful for each day that we open our eyes and find we are still alive, graciously given one more day in which to serve the Lord and to put our hearts right before him?
For a moment, look back. If you had died a year ago would you have been ready to go to the judgment seat? Ten years ago? Thirty years ago? Are you ready now? Each day you live gives you one more day to try to make your calling and election sure.
Think of a coin. There are two sides to a coin and you cannot look at both sides at the same time. Imagine that on this coin are two opposing forces. Depression on one side and good cheer on the other side. If we are depressed we cannot be cheerful. If we are cheerful, we cannot be depressed. Of these two which is the natural tendency of man? It is natural for man to think the worst, to see the bad side, to revel in front page news. If it were not so, the newspaper would not print things they do and the TV would not carry the programs they do. Man’s natural instinct is downward, fleshly, ending in the grave. Paul enumerates these works of the flesh. “The activities of the lower nature are obvious. Here is a list: sexual immorality, impurity of mind, sensuality, worship of false gods, witchcraft, hatred, quarreling, jealousy, bad temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that. I solemnly assure you, as I did before, that those who indulge in such things will never inherit God’s Kingdom.” Gal. 5:19-21 Phillips.
On the opposite side of the coin are the spiritual virtues, the up-beat things that make us cheerful,. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlemen, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal. 5:22-24 RSV.
These nine virtues make up one fruit and how important it is to produce this fruit. In order to do so, Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think on these things, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
I am sure that no one can lay claim to never having been depressed. If we haven’t seen the darkness we can’t appreciate the sunshine, can we? Depression is a natural feeling but we must try to overcome it. David said, “Why art thou cast down oh my soul ,and why art thou disquieted (depressed) within me ? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him.” Psalm 42:5.
Everyday let us resolve to turn our coin over and look at the good side. Elevate our thoughts through reading the Scriptures. Look up—not down. We must constantly try to overcome the world and its degradation’s. That is what Jesus did and he said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Life is too short. We can’t afford time to be depressed. Such negative thinking cancels good and constructive thoughts and actually leaves you in debt. Think of it! Our hearts must be right before God in the day of judgment. “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Let us set our minds on things above and each day we awake, give God thanks that we have received the blessing of Life. “Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all his benefits.”
Here is a little prayer that we all might do well to say each morning when we awake. “Thank you Lord for giving me life, letting me live today. You must have more work for me to do. There must be something I need to learn and do today. Give me strength and wisdom that I may do Your will and thank you when the day is past.”
Begin and end each day in prayer to God and we will keep the coin “heads-up” and we will rejoice for “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One