Perspectives

Psalm 39:1-13… 1) I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” 2) So I remained utterly silent not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; 3) my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 4) “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 5) You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. 6) “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. 7) “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 8) Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. 9) I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. 10) Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11) When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth—surely everyone is but a breath. 12) “Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. 13) Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.” (NIV)

Because you and I realize the soon coming of Jesus Christ; we have committed ourselves to a certain kind of lifestyle. We will strive to be steady in mind… preserve and safeguard our faith, attempt to see things in their proper perspective, in their proper order. See the things that are important and the things that are not important. We will not allow ourselves to be swept away by sudden and momentary enthusiasm; we will take care that we do not become unbalanced in our walk with Christ. It is only when people see the affairs of the world in the light of the gospel and in the light of eternity that they see them in their proper dimension; it is when God is given his rightful place that everything else seems to takes its proper place.

The Psalmist recognizes the frailty of humanity. You and I have lived long enough to understand that life is short; we all know that. But time begs us to ask the question, “What is the Purpose of Life? Am I missing something? What is it that gives meaning to our existence?” This is a current question being asked by many today, and some of them are asking it with a lot of noise.

The saying goes. I would not mind having some of the things that other people have! We want what others have, and we want them now. We gaze about and say, “That is for me; we too want a nice little bungalow with an attached two-car garage, heated; and we would not mind a chicken in the pot. Oh yes! I want to be part of the well-off, prosperous social order; but we do not want anything to do with these churchy types of issues, issues that ask us to help where and when help is needed. This problem kind of stuff is not for us… just leave us out of it.”

Things did not turn out that way for us, we wanted them too. But somehow, we got tied up in life’s traffic jamb, bumped and bruised, a bit of growling and complaining here and there. Our lives became filled with tension, but we turned our lives over to Christ to guide us through this traffic jamb. Then another generation came along, saw that we were battered and bruised, they looked around and asked, is this supposed to have purpose and meaning, you could have fooled me, you got to be kidding me. Is this what life being is all about? Wow!! “I only live once; I might as well grab all I can. Today is my day; that is all that matters. Nothing matters since we are all going to end up in eternity anyway.”

Let us say it is a wonder of wonders that God’s love covers a multitude of our sins. That is an amazing truth! That sinner as we are, God loves us; that is why He sent His Son. We are just pilgrims and strangers down here, but sometimes we do not think of it that way. Sometimes we want to fix up our little corner of the earth and think it is going to be permanent. We want to wrap ourselves in a blanket of false security. Perhaps we should say, at best we are after all just pilgrims and strangers on earth and that is the way we ought to live our lives. We are on a journey; seeking a city whose builder and maker is God.

To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me…? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen