Considering Forever

Good morning!

The Psalms were calling me this morning.   I was reading in both 68 and 69, both written by David.
In Psalm 68, he is praising the God he loves, celebrating his endless attributes.  There's just not enough that we can say about the goodness of God.  There are times, though, when we just don't feel like proclaiming it as David did.

Yesterday, for example, was a day of bad news, roadblocks and hairpin turns.  I felt buffeted, a little like one of those balls that ping around in the pinball machine.  A friend's loved one was taken, in the prime of life, leaving elderly parents, young children and a loving spouse to grieve.

When sudden, unexpected events occur, or even hardships we know are coming, we sometimes want to cry out as David did in Psalm 69:1-2 - - -

God, GOD, save me!

I'm in over my head,

Quicksand under me,

Swamp water over me,

I'm going down for the third time.

In Psalm 68 this morning, I read this promise, though.  Verses 5 and 6, and then 35 declare:

5-6 Father of orphans,

Champion of widows,

is God in his holy house.

God makes homes for the homeless, 

Leads prisoners to freedom...

But leaves rebels to rot in hell.

35 A terrible beauty, O God,

Streams from your sanctuary.

It's Israel's strong God!

He gives power and might to his people!

O you, his people - - - bless God!

Christian, it is hard to bless God, to respond righteously to troubles, isn't it?  Speaking personally, I often don't, and when I do, I am still tempted to deal with emotional pain inappropriately.  At those times, it is hard to keep "the big picture" in mind - - - that this life is only the beginning of eternity. From the moment our relationship with God begins, that moment we give ourselves to Him and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior, eternal life begins for us.  He comes to live in us, and we will never be apart from Him!  Never again.  The apostle Paul talked about this in 2 Corinthians 5:

1-5 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

Oh Y'all!  It is all about "the long view", the eternal perspective.  With that in mind, let's "be of good cheer", and humble ourselves in our walk, regardless of our circumstances, "good" or "bad".  He intends everything for our good, regardless of our view of it.

But, one more thing, what's all that about the rebel rotting in hell, in Psalm 68?  The promises I've elaborated on this morning do not apply to those who have rejected God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who reject His offer of salvation and eternal life are headed for Hell, no doubt about it.  The Scriptures are clear.  Please, don't be "that guy" or "that girl".  Consider Forever!  God is calling you, extending His hand of rescue today.  Don't "go down for the third time".  Take His hand.  Take it!

One day, all of us will "fold our tents".  Some of us will exchange the exile of this world for a joyous homegoing.  Others will find themselves separated from God forever, in eternal torment which will make the troubles of this world look like nothing.

Dear Father, help us all to "take the long view", to trust You and in your everlasting goodness toward us.  I pray that not one single person reading this will reject You and your love.  Please comfort the hurting today, regardless of the cause, and give them the peace that only You can supernaturally give. Please show us all how to adopt your supernatural cheerfulness, regardless of our earthly circumstances.  In this way, You will get all the glory.  In Jesus' name, amen.