Our first promise today is found in Psalms 112:4: “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness .
Have you ever been out on a pitch-black night, with no moon or stars to guide you? Most likely you had to grope uncertainly about, feeling your way, and using your memory as to where you were and how far it was to where you wished to go. And then, suddenly, the moon came out, probably giving just a feeble light. But how thankful you were for that faint gleam! And what magnificence when we behold a full moon with all the stars shining with a light that penetrates the darkest night! “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalms 19:1). How marvelous indeed are God’s works, the works of His hands that declare His glory.
Today, spiritually speaking, our path is illuminated by celestial light that is not only shining but streaming through the darkness that is now Swiftly descending upon this earth. The unrighteous look with fear and trembling upon the fast coming night, but we need not fear its terrors, for to us it means that our Lord is near.
The second promise is found in 2nd Corinthians 4:8,9: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed .”
If we are living close to God we will not be unduly distressed by the troubles we are called upon to bear. The Word tells us in James 1:12 that the man who endures temptation is blessed, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life. Yes, we shall be troubled on every side, perhaps by friends or family, most certainly by enemies and many untoward circumstances. We will often be perplexed, for now we “see through a glass darkly” (1st Corinthians 13:12), but we need not despair, for we know that “all things work together for good to those that love God, who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), that eventually we will see Him “face to face” (1st Corinthians 13:1), and at that time shall understand the meaning and the purpose of the trials that so often had beset us. We will be persecuted and cast down, but, with God’s help, we shall rise again, for He tells us that we will never be forsaken nor destroyed. In our darkest moments it is well to remember that Christ was troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down, but He was never forsaken nor destroyed. No, not even His ignominious death destroyed Him, for He arose from death, glorious, victorious and immortal. Should we complain if we must follow His steps? No, for we, too, if faithful, will also receive the “exceeding great” reward.
Our third promise is found in Isaiah 46:4: And “even to your old age I am he; and even to hoary hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even will carry, and will deliver you.”
This should be a source of comfort to some of us who have hoary hairs. The Scripture tells us that “the hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31 ) . It isn’t easy to grow old, and we dread the time when our usefulness will be at an end. And sometimes those closest to us make us feel that we are no longer a part of their lives, and they can get along quite well without us.
Then, again, as the years creep up upon us, we are sometimes inclined to look back and regret so-called opportunities which we think might have made us successful according to the standards of this world We regret our failures and the mistakes we made, and think how much better we could do now if we could just do things all over again.
Let us stop for a moment and consider these things Can we not see that the world never gives anything that is really worth while, even to those it considers great, a few short years of homage, then perhaps humiliation and forgetfulness of all the things they have accomplished ? Occasionally it does remember, but often It is too late There may be pomp and splendor in memory of the one deceased, but he knows nothing of it, and if he could express an opinion would no doubt say that he would have preferred some recognition and kindness while he was yet alive to enjoy it And even if, in exceptional cases, he is tardily recognized before his death, how quickly passing is his glory, as, before many years have gone, the grim reaper relentlessly overtakes him.
As for our many mistakes, who indeed has not made them, even those in the prime of life? The only difference is that because of our age we have more years to look back upon, but, in fact, our failures, in proportion, are no more than those of many others Let us make our latter days ‘ the best time of our lives, and not, by looking regretfully back, miss the present opportunities of service to God which even those with hoary hairs can successfully perform No matter how many mistakes any of us have made, if penitent, God has forgiven them, and some day we will be as the starts of heaven, with a glory that will shine forth to lead “whomsoever will” to God What indeed are the tawdry things of the world in comparison to this? God “carries” us, and Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms“
Our fourth promise is found in Psalms 107:9 “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
Did any earthly honor we have ever received fill our soul with the “goodness” that God’s Truth does? We have noted friends and acquaintances who seemingly had everything this world has to offer, and yet they were never satisfied, they longed for something else Many people with earthly riches have traveled to far places, built beautiful homes, have been able to gratify every whim, and yet have jumped from windows or destroyed themselves in other ways Others have wondered, thinking they would have been entirely satisfied had they possessed all those things But they would not have been So, if we are not completely happy, let us draw even closer to Him, and He will see that our cup runs over ‘ (Psalms 23 5) with His peace and joy.
Our fifth promise is found in 2nd Kings 6 16. Fear not for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Elisha said this to his servant who was filled with fear when he saw the great hosts of Syria encamped around the city of Dothan where Elisha, the prophet, was The king of Syria had come to take Elisha But he had not counted on God when he brought his mighty army against the prophet Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes might be opened, and when they were, he saw horses and chariots of fire round about his master The great army was smitten with blindness and defeated So, no matter how many enemies may confront us, they that be with us are more than they that be with them The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them” (Psalms 34 7).
The sixth promise is found in Psalms 72 4 ‘He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”
There are not many judges who mete out justice to the poor and needy How often it is the man who can afford the best attorney, or one who is powerful in the political or financial world who receives the favors The poor and needy are oppressed and forgotten in their am struggle against the great And so many times it seems to us that the oppressor goes unconcernedly on his way, oppressing still others and receiving no punishment for his acts. But God takes note of these things, and the time is soon coming when He Will break in pieces the oppressor, who will never see light again. Their punishment will be swift and sure, and we need have no doubts in that respect. There are many passages in the Bible that tell us that this is true.
The seventh promise is found in Matthew 5:11,12: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.
Men do revile us because of the Truth. Because we cannot walk with them in their questionable pleasures, and do as they do, they persecute us and say all manner of evil against us. Are we to fight back when they do this, “stick up for our rights”, etc.? No., we must never do that, for ” . . . Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). We are to “rejoice and be exceeding glad.” But, notice, Jesus uses the words “falsely” and “for my sake.” We may be reviled and persecuted because of some wrong that we have committed, we are not to rejoice about that. But if our persecutions are the result of our earnest endeavors to walk in the ways of Truth, then we are to rejoice over These things. Why? Because we are told that our reward in heaven will be great. The prophet has said: ” . . . I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalms 84:10). And that applies to all of us, does it not? So let us then press forward with gladness in our hearts that we are privileged to share in the sufferings of our Lord, that we may share in His glory when He comes.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One