THE UNCHANGING WORDS OF GOD IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE IN THESE EVER-CHANGING TIMES
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Pandemic Lesson #1
TWO VALUABLE LESSONS
Farmers can teach us two very valuable lessons in life. The first is the essence of FAITH, the other one is the wisdom of PREPARATION.
This pandemic is a real testing of faith. It is a trial that will reveal whether the heart trusts in God’s genuine PROMISES or he just relies only on man’s earthly PREMISES.
THE ESSENCE OF FAITH
The first takes God AT HIS WORD and makes it the basis of how he deals with the perplexity of this troublesome time. He believes that everything that comes to pass is a marvelous revelation of what God had already affirmed in His Living Word. Yes, he struggles (like the rest), but not surprised. He is “afflicted but not crushed”.
The Apostle Paul tells of BELIEVING a PROMISE about our glorious future resurrection and being with God’s Presence one day –
2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-14
Since we have THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH ACCORDING TO WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, “I BELIEVED, AND SO I SPOKE,” WE ALSO BELIEVE, and so we also speak, KNOWING that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence.
FAITH WILL MAKE YOU STAND IN TIMES OF AFFLICTION
This confident trust in what GOD REVEALED in His WRITTEN WORD makes a believer remain courageous in the face of persistent trouble.
That is why Paul tells us in the preceding verses –
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9
We are AFFLICTED IN EVERY WAY, BUT NOT CRUSHED; PERPLEXED, BUT NOT DRIVEN TO DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED.
James spoke of the PROMISE of the RETURN OF THE LORD.
“Be PATIENT, therefore, brothers, UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD.” (James 5:7a)
The word PATIENCE in James 5:7 is MAKROTHUMEO. It means “NOT TO LOSE HEART; TO PERSEVERE PATIENTLY AND BRAVELY IN ENDURING MISFORTUNES AND TROUBLES.”
GOD’S PROMISES ARE SURE
Because we BELIEVE the PROMISE of GOD’S WORD that HE WILL RETURN. We do not lose heart. We persevere. Patiently and bravely. Enduring misfortunes and troubles.
Every believer’s spirit is always in the mode of EXPECTANT and CONFIDENT WAITING because he knows that GOD’S PROMISES WILL SURELY BE FULFILLED. He understands THAT WHATEVER COMES TO PASS is simply constructing the ultimate fulfillment of ALL THAT GOD PLEDGED TO ACCOMPLISH in His Word.
Those who only rely on the fluctuating earthly assurances and human trustworthiness will be disappointed sooner or later. This pandemic proves the point. Personal plans are obstructed. Powerful governments are frustrated. Time tested mechanism, modalities and methods are being shattered. Nothing seems sure anymore.
Now we are forced to scramble in finding novel ways to deal with a “new normal”. What we relied on in the past seems not to work in the present.
This makes the future looks so uncertain.
The patience of a farmer’s waiting is future-directed, not present-dictated, and is maintained by an astonishing FAITH. Every farmer knows he can only till the soil and plant the seeds. The rest belong to a greater power far beyond his human capability. He cannot bring the rains. He cannot produce the light of the sun. He cannot give life to the seed and make it grow. He has no power to produce the fruits.
Only the Sovereign God can do this. ONLY GOD IS REALLY IN CONTROL. Nobody else is. Nothing else is.
HOPING FOR WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE TODAY
Think about it. The farmer cannot control events, but he will plant, nevertheless. He believes in the future harvest. He has not received the fruits yet, but he is confident they will surely come.
This is the essence of faith. It makes us WORK. It makes us HOPE.
It makes us WAIT.
HEBREWS 11:1
Now FAITH is THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN.
That is why he waits patiently in EXPECTANT FAITH. He does not mind the strain of waiting were nothing seems to happen. He knows the PRECIOUS FRUITS WILL COME.
SEE HOW THE FARMER WAITS FOR THE PRECIOUS FRUIT OF THE EARTH, being PATIENT about it, UNTIL IT RECEIVES the early and the late rains. (James 5:7b)
TAKE YOUR REFUGE IN HIS WORDS
You and I are going through a variety of “troubles” because of this pandemic. May GOD’S LIVING WORDS become the framework of HOW WE FEEL and APPROACH this abnormal time. Look beyond the present. This is the KEY. Find your bearings in the future realities of God’s promises. TAKE YOUR REFUGE IN HIS PRECEPTS. They are REAL.
God is ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL and TRUSTWORTHY.
PSALM 18:30
THIS GOD—HIS WAY IS PERFECT; THE WORD OF THE LORD PROVES TRUE; HE IS A SHIELD FOR ALL THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.
The perfectly wise God is never idle. HE IS ALWAYS ACCOMPLISHING THINGS FOR GOOD. He is ALWAYS WORKING IN EVERYTHING (Romans 8:28) FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PURPOSES (“fruits”). HE ALWAYS DOES. But we do not usually see this. It may seem that “nothing good” is happening. There are. He made promises, didn’t He? They are wonderfully laid out in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. Waiting for us to embrace them and believe the Sovereign Lord who gave them.
May the Bible become more than a source of inspirations for us and make God’s Word the basis of our personal convictions instead.
Your Pastor (Jay-R Remorosa)