Canaan's Rest

A good question to ask ourselves from time to time is, “Why am I doing what I am doing?” I was recently convicted when my prayer partner and I were to write on “What is meaningful to you about communion?” When I proceeded to write about it, I was convicted as I realized there were times that I paid more attention that I was properly dressed to go up front than the wonderful meaning of partaking of the body and blood of Jesus.

We might also ask ourselves the question, am I where God wants me? Has He called me to the work I am doing right now, or has He been trying to move me on to what He has for me next and I am dragging my feet? God changes the times and seasons as it says in Daniels 2:21 and we may be holding on to the past season. We need to let go and flow into what He has for us next.

Perhaps we are like the children of Israel who wandered for forty years in the wilderness as they were on their way to the Promised Land. We know they often longed to go back to Egypt rather than where God was taking them to Canaan, the Land flowing with Milk and Honey, that would be their own. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us, so rather than go through just the motions in the present or even looking back, let us enter the new that He has for us.

What could be better to do with our time than to love the Lord, delight in Him, serve Him, enjoy Him and give Him our attention, not just when we go to church, but all throughout our day? We can use our time to express our love in a myriad of ways. If we are honest with ourselves, we may say that our time is often wasted on things we love more than the Lord, for they become like idols. Rather than look to the Lord Himself, we may look to other things to give us a sense of identity and security. Some can make idols out of their jobs by spending all their time there while neglecting their families.

What about times we could give a positive witness to what the Lord is doing, and yet we care more about what people will think of us and remain quiet? Rather than affirming our love for the Lord, we care more about protecting ourselves. Instead, let our love for God be demonstrated in our love for others, not judging them. We are to love them and offer what they need the most, not what they can give to us. Some need encouragement, others need comfort or compassion, or to be accepted for who they are. Let us not waste our time on what is frivolous, but live each day by His power within us and let His love pour out of us on others.

How do we gain back our resilience, have reserves, and live without fear? None of us know what will happen in the future, but one thing we do know is the One who holds the future. We read in Hebrews 3:1 that “He upholds the universe by the word of His power.” When we spend more time watching the news or reading the newspaper than we do reading the Word, our hearts will get fearful and anxious. No matter how dark the times we live in, we don’t have to fear for He is with us. It is good to memorize Psalm 23, remember who our Shepherd is, and to sit beside quiet waters so our souls can be refreshed.

Sadly, the enemy wants us to quit, and he has persuaded many pastors, long-term missionaries and many in public ministries to give up. Jesus warned us in Luke 21 that before He comes again, there will be distress on the earth and people will faint with fear. He warns us to watch ourselves and not to be weighed down, but to stay awake, pray, and stand strong. I think we would all admit we have become a Comfort Culture with kids growing up having everything done for them, but it leaves us all weakened. When trials and hard times come, many give up on God and feel He isn’t coming through.

The choice is ours if we are willing to fight against the enemy and choose to resist the enemy’s tactics. Our trust is to be in our mighty God, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 125:1, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” Let us have a single heart for the Lord and ask for His help to stay strong and not moved.

It would seem things in our western culture have become chaotic and hope has been lost. I wonder: what do we have to offer the next generation, as we seem to have lost what once made our country great? But when we know the Lord, we are not to despair for our hope is in the Lord, which is based on certainty and reality. I’d like to share what we learned in Sunday’s class as we understand what is happening around us in light of scripture, seeing four realities:

1. Christ is risen and is the reason we have a living hope. Peter writes in I Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jeus from the dead.” He is writing to those who were exiled and scattered, reminding them of the hope in Christ even as they are persecuted.

2. Christ is Lord and He sees what is going on in our country and the world. He is not wringing His hands, but is sovereign and in control. We are not! Things rise and fall according to His sovereign will.

3. Christ is making all things new and we have much to look forward to, as it says in Rev. 21:5. One day there will be a new heaven and earth, with no more death or mourning, etc.

4. God has determined this moment for us. We live in the exact time God chose for us to live, not centuries before, but now. Al and I were sitting next to the pastor’s young son, and I felt apologetic that we hand him a world so full of chaos and not like the world we had entered. But this is God’s moment for him and for each of us, as He put us in this place and time for His glory.

So let none of us despair, but live in truth and deep hope based on reality of what we have in Christ. Instead of watching hours on TV of what is happening in our country, consider taking time off to spend in prayer and scripture to remember our hope is in Jesus.