God's Promises

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” [Titus 1:2]

The lush green hillsides of Vermont are turning bright colors as summer gives way to fall. The warm days are becoming cooler and soon the bright colors of fall will give way to cold bleak winter days as the hills are covered with snow. Winter will come and stay for what will seem like an eternity but soon the snow-covered hills will begin to show the faint signs of spring as farmers hang sap buckets to harvest sap from the maple trees. From the making of maple syrup to the harvesting of apples and from hiking the hills to skiing snow covered mountains the seasons of Vermont will come and go with an uncanny regularity year after year.

It doesn’t make much difference where you live, the season may be different but they come and go with the same regularity. I am reminded of God’s promise to Noah when after the flood He said, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” [Genesis 8:22] It has been nearly 6 millenniums since God made that promise to Noah and not once have the seasons failed to come and go with the regularity God promised.

The Scriptures tell us that God cannot lie. When He makes a promise He alone has the ability to always keep His word. Now as we watch the seasons come and go, we can with assurance have hope of eternal life. Why? God has promised life eternal to those who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:16, 36]

My hope is resting on a promise from God who cannot lie. What is the foundation for your hope?

Every Day is for Thanksgiving

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” [Psalm 100:1, 2]

Today is not Thanksgiving Day but like every day of the year it is a day for thanksgiving. In the absence of thanksgiving we become ungrateful. We begin to take things for granted. There is never a time when it inappropriate for us to be thankful. We are to be thankful in every circumstance. That is only possible when have gain a heavenly perspective on the events of our lives. The difficult circumstances are evidences of God’s love for us as he molds and makes us after the image of His Son. This he does for our good and His glory. Nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God. Nothing in this world can separate us from God. He never leaves us. In the midst of life difficulties, we can still know peace, joy and contentment because they are not based upon circumstances but are the result of our unbreakable relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We should like Jesus the night he was betrayed be able to say as he did, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” [Psalm 118:24]

Another way to demonstrate our thankfulness is by showing appreciation for the acts of kindness that others do for us. We should not take them for granted nor should we take God for granted. When was the last time you express your gratitude to God and others? Why not start right now?

PS Consider reading the following passages of scripture: Romans 8:18, 28, 35 - 39; 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18; Hebrews 13:5, 6; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2 - 5

Sacrilege

Is it possible to worship God without sacrifice?

Sacrilege's normal definition is "the irreverent use of that which belongs to God." Daniel gives us a detailed account of Belshazzar's sacrilege when he took the vessels from the temple and used them for his night of carousing and blasphemy.

After the Israelites returned to the land, they questioned God. "In what way have we despised Your name?" God's response to Israel's belligerent question was to broaden definition of sacrilege when He said, "By saying 'The table of the Lord is contemptible.' And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" [Malachi 1:7, 8 NKJV] G. Campbell Morgan suggested that sacrilege in its worst form consists of taking something and giving it to God when it means absolutely nothing to you.

One member of our camp committee in Alaska said "Tell the people we don't need any more junk for Jesus." His retort was a response to the pile of broken, out of date equipment that just had been given to the camp. When things were no longer good for personal use, people gave them to the camp. As a result the camp grounds were slowing becoming a junk yard. "Junk for Jesus" is the highest possible form of sacrilege.

Sacrilege - The early church fathers defined sacrilege as the theft of sacred things, irreverent use of sacred things, the personal use of that which belongs to God [the tithe, first fruits], the giving of what belongs to the poor to those who are not poor, robbing the temple or giving something to God and taking it back.

Charles Spurgeon added his thoughts on sacrilege to those of the church fathers. In his messages, he made mention of many different forms of sacrilege - praying wrongly (praying "Our Father.." when you do not have a personal relationship God), living your life for self and selfish purposes, robbing God [Malachi 3:8], usurping divine authority and hypocrisy.

What do we possess that belongs to God? Our body [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20], in fact, everything we have belongs to God. Are we guilty of sacrilege when we give God what's left of our time and money? Is it sacrilege when we participate in activities that destroy our bodies? Is it sacrilege when we give God less than our best?

Ultimately, sacrilege is saying to God, "me first and you can have what's left when I'm done with it." To which God still responds, "Offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Accept you favorably?" [1:7.8 NKJV]

The Bible Message is Relevant forToday!

The Bible is relevant for today. Its message is the answer to every problem we face today. The Bible's answer may not be politically correct nor will its instructions be followed by sinful men, but that does not change the correctness of the Biblical teaching.

One major problem we face today is the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. People with the HIV virus develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) that does damage to the body's immune system, rendering it unable to defend itself against infections. These infections normally would not pose a threat to healthy individuals, but a person with AIDS is more prone to repeated infections and a number of rare cancers, thereby weakening the body. People with AIDS die! NO effective treatment, cure, or vaccine for AIDS is yet available.

How is HIV transmitted? HIV is usually transmitted through sexual contact or shared needles. Babies of HIV infected pregnant women have about a 50% chance of being infected during pregnancy, delivery and nursing. People who received blood transfusions between 1977 and 1985 are at much greater risk for HIV than those who received transfusions after 1985, when more effective blood screening was introduced. HIV can also be spread through organ transplants and the donation- of sperm. Occupational exposure and infection can result from needle stick injury or the mishandling of infected blood, body fluids or organs.

Who are the risk groups? While people may be at risk from occupational exposure, blood transfusions and organ and sperm donations, people in the following groups are currently at greater risk: gay and bisexual men who are sexually active and not monogamous, users of intravenous drugs who share needles, sexual partners (male and female) of people in risk groups, and sexual partners of people with HIV. Infection takes just one exposure with someone who may or may know they are HIV positive.

What is the world's solution to this problem? Lip service is given to abstinence, but in general their advice is, "practice safe sex." The practice of safe sex is not a Biblical solution. Intravenous drug users are provided with clean needles. This may help protect the drug user, But it does not protect people, families and communities that are being destroyed by the high crime rates that drug use produces. Giving needles to drug users is not a Biblical solution. If the Biblical moral mandate had been followed, we would not have a HIV problem that has developed into AIDS.

What is the Biblical solution? The Biblical solution comes from abstaining from practices God calls sinful. They are adultery (Exodus 20:4), fornication (Galatians 5:19), homosexuality (Romans 1:25-28), and drug abuse (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:12, 19, 20; 10:23).

God loves all men and women regardless of what they do. Because He loves them, He does not condone sinful practices. A lifestyle contrary to God's standards is evidence of a person's need to be born again. Being born again is a Biblical mandate, for the Bible says, "Ye must be born again." (John 3: 3) To be born again, one must recognize that he is unable to save himself (Romans 3:23), that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary in his place (1 Peter 2:24), and that by confession of his sin (Romans 10:9, 10) he can be a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As a child of God, one will willingly submit to God's authority and God's Word in his life. One will abstain from the lifestyle that God forbids. Depending on his problem, one will either refrain from the use of illicit intravenous drugs or enter a monogamous marriage relationship with the woman God has given for life. Yes, the old-fashioned moral code of scripture which sets forth the permanence of marriage and the sinfulness of premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexual activity is not really old­ fashioned but relevant for today. The answer is not safe sex, but Biblically approved sex.

Frankly, if a person does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior, I don't believe they will accept the message of the Bible concerning illicit drugs and sexual practices. The rejection of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, also means the rejection of His Word, the Bible. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Angry People

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." [Proverbs 22:24, 25]

Solomon's very practical words of advise when heeded can save us a lot of trouble and heartache. Why is that so? In Proverbs we read that the angry person is known for the foolishness of his ways. When a person is controlled by anger his judgment is clouded. The result is a loss of a sense of purpose and his actions are both out of proportion to the situation and unpredictable [Proverbs 14:17, 29]. Angry people cause trouble because they are quick to take offense and slow to being forgiving [Proverbs 29:22; 15:16; 19;11]. Trying to help an angry person is an exercise in frustration. They never seem to learn any lessons from their problems and baling them out of trouble is counter productive because it allows them to think they got away with something. The end result is that things get worse not better [Proverbs 19:19]. An angry man's actions are defenseless because they exercise no self-control and have no immunity to their self-destructive passions from within and temptations from without [Proverbs 25:23; 15;32].

So what are we to do when dealing with an angry person? What can an angry person do to control his anger? First the angry person must learn to redirect his anger toward finding a solution rather than directing his anger toward people. This helps release the energies of anger under control in a positive way. Secondly, if anger is directed toward a person or persons rather than toward finding a solution, one must seek forgiveness by admitting their actions were wrong [Ephesians 4:31, 32]. A brief comment on seeking forgiveness. Nothing is gain by saying I'm sorry. The proper response is to admit your actions were wrong! It is in admitting one's actions were wrong that you begin to take responsibility for your actions. Thirdly, when anger is wrongly expressed no benefit is gained by trying to justify your action. This is only an attempt to escape responsibility.

Fourthly, nothing is gained trying to hide your anger. Honest communication is necessary to find a solution and gain control of your anger. Fifthly, angry people must stop insisting on their rights and begin to exercise self-control which is a fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is developed when sin is confessed to God, followed by an admission that their anger cannot be controlled and by asking God to control the anger through the power of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5:22, 23]. That means learning to be obedient to Biblical instruction like that found in James 1:19, 20: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." Also consider Proverbs 15:1; 21:23. Sixthly, the first sign of being able to control your anger is by learning to avoid petty disagreements [Proverbs 17:14; 19:11]. The most important step in controlling your anger is maintaining a daily relationship with the Lord through Bible reading, prayer and scripture memorization. If you constantly find yourself in the company of an angry person, what should you do? You should "make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul [Proverbs 22:24, 25]." The Apostle Paul put it this way, "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits' [I Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)]." Then never act in a way that causes others to be offended by your words or deeds therefore provoking them to anger. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves [Matthew 10:16]."

Finally commit the angry person to God by praying regularly for him. "When I hear of anybody losing his temper, I always pray that he may not find it again. Such tempers are best lost." [Spurgeon]

Spirituality - Part Two

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:1

In Spirituality Part One, we were reminded that Paul's desire was for the Corinthian believers to be spiritual not carnal, fleshly minded, or babes. Spiritual believers are maturing believers. Maturity is the result of spiritual discipline. The process of spiritual growth comes from both the disciplines of abstinence and engagement. One very important warning is necessary. Spirituality isn't found in the process. Just because we do certain things doesn't make us spiritual. Spirituality is the goal of the process. The process is the pathway to spirituality not spirituality in itself. The purpose of the process is produce the changes in our lives bring us into conformity with the image of Christ. The image is that of character. Let us now consider the disciplines of abstinence.

In our desire to know God and to mature spiritually, there are times when we need to abstain to some degree from the satisfactions we generally regard as normal and legitimate desires.

Legitimate acts of abstinence are:

1. Aloneness: choosing to be alone and to dwell on our experience of isolation from other human beings. Solitude is generally the most fundamental in the beginning of the spiritual life, and a must to be returned to again and again as that life develops.

2. Silence: goes beyond solitude. It is more than not speaking; it is also listening and observing things and people.

3. Fasting: we abstain in some significant way from food and possibly drink. It confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food. It teaches temperance or self-control, therefore teaches moderation and restraint with regard to all our fundamental drives.

4. Thriftiness: we abstain from using money or goods at our disposal in ways that merely gratify our desires or our hunger for status, glamour or luxury.

Again a remember that the value of these disciplines is not in themselves but they are tools God can use in the process of discipleship to bring about the changes that are needed to bring us into greater conformity to Christ.

Spirituality - Part One

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:1

Paul's desire was for the Corinthian believers to be spiritual not carnal, fleshly minded, or babes. Spiritual believers are maturing believers. Maturity is the result of spiritual discipline. The process of spiritual growth comes from both the disciplines of abstinence and engagement. One very important warning is necessary. Spirituality isn't found in the process. Just because we do certain things doesn't make us spiritual. Spirituality is the goal of the process. The process is the pathway to spirituality not spirituality in itself. The purpose of the process is produce the changes in our lives bring us into conformity with the image of Christ. The image is that of character. Let us first consider the disciplines of engagement.

Spiritual growth necessitates the removal from our lives certain activities that serve as a hindrance to the process. When this happens it is best we replace it with some activity that that contributes to our proper growth and development.

Legitimate acts of engagement are:

1. Study: engagement in the written Word of God. It is the positive counterpart of solitude.
2. Worship: engagement in the expressions of God’s great worth.
3. Celebration: completion of worship for in celebration we express God’s goodness to us.
4. Service: we engage our goods and strength in the active promotion of the good of others and the causes of God in the world.
5. Prayer: communicating with God and the establishment of prayer comes in response to the establishment of the disciplines of solitude and fasting.
6. Confession: both confessing our sins to God and letting trusted friends know our deepest weaknesses and failures. It becomes a guard to help us avoid sin.
7. Submission: humility and complete honesty are the result of submission that is a call for help to those who are able to give it because of their strength of experience and Christ-likeness.

Remember the value of these disciplines is not in themselves but they are tools God can use in the process of discipleship to bring about the changes that are needed to bring us into greater conformity to Christ.

Hypocrites in Church

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?’ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” [Matthew 7:3 – 5]

Have you ever thought about hypocrites in church? I do and this is my conclusion. Charles Heimsath said, “The chief trouble with the church is that you and I are in it.” Even though a person has been born again, he is still a sinner. When we forget this fact, we become overly critical of others and easily content with the way we are. Because we place such a great emphasis on creed at the expense of conduct, we are too willing to make allowances for our mediocre Christian lifestyle. Creed is important but creed is more than what we believe. If our creed does not affect our conduct, we do not believe our creed.

The time has come for us to stop blandly overlooking all our own faults and being so critical of others. It is time to examine our own lives, accept responsibility for what we are and take the criticism of others seriously. Why? As long as we are content why should we have to become something we already think we are? There can be no change in the way we live until we realize we are but saved sinners. We deceive ourselves by adopting a critical spirit toward those outside the church and by judging them by what we think we are.

When we are unwilling to address our own sins of the flesh and spirit while attacking the sins of the flesh and spirit of others, we are hypocritical. What’s the answer? One, we need to be continually examining our actions and words in light of God’s Word. Two, we must change any conduct that is not in harmony with its teaching. Three, we need to adopt a spirit of meekness [having our strength under control] when dealing with others. Four, realizing personal change is difficult, painful and time consuming; we must exercise the same patience with others we would want them to exercise with us. Fifth, we need to go to those we have offended by our critical spirit and ask for forgiveness. If we’re not sure we have offended someone, use this test. If I think I might have, I probably have. Finally, speak the truth in love and demonstrate love when we interact with others.

To you who are overly critical of the church and church members, I would ask you to judge Christianity by its only standard, the person of Christ and his teachings. Do you see things as I see them?

A, W. Tozer Quotes

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, but not all faith pleases God." Of God and Men

"The flaw in current evangelism lies in its humanistic approach. It struggles to be supernaturalistic but never quite makes it. It is frankly fascinated by the great, noisy, aggressive world with its big names, its hero worship, its wealth and its garish pageantry. To the millions of disappointed persons who have always yearned for worldly glory but never attained to it, the modern evangel offers quick and easy short cut to their heart’s desire. Peace of mind, happiness, prosperity, social acceptance, publicity, success in sports, business, the entertainment field and perchance to sit occasionally at the same banquet table with celebrity - all this on earth and heaven at last. Certainly no insurance company can offer half as much." Born After Midnight

"Real faith invariably produces holiness of heart and righteousness of life." Man, The Dwelling Place of God

"To most people God is an inference, not a reality." Pursuit of God

"As one fairly familiar with the contemporary religious scene, I say without hesitation that a part, a very large part, of the activities carried on today in evangelical circles are not only influenced by pragmatism but almost completely controlled by it. Religious methodology is geared to it; it appears large in our youth meetings; magazines and books constantly glorify it; conventions are dominated by it; and the whole religious atmosphere is alive with it." God Tells the Man Who Cares

"Often acts done in the spirit of religious irritation have consequences far beyond anything we could have guessed. " Of God and Men

"Whence then does the true fear of God arise? From the knowledge of our own sinfulness and a sense of he presence of God." The Root of Righteousness

"What does holiness mean? Is it a negative kind of piety...No, of course not! Holiness in the Bible means moral wholeness - a positive quality which actually includes kindness, mercy, purity, moral blamelessness and godliness. It is always to be thought of in a positive, white intensity of degree." I Call it Heresy

"Our Lord told His disciples that love and obedience were organically united. The final test of love is obedience." The Incredible Christian

"So today we have the astonishing spectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the unholy job of providing earthly entertainment for the so-called sons of heaven. Religious entertainment is in many places rapidly crowding out the serious things of God. Many churches these days have become little more than poor theatres where fifth-rate "produces" peddle their shoddy wares with the full approval of evangelical leaders who can even quote a holy text in defense of their delinquency. And hardly a man dares to raise his voice against it." The Root of Righteousness

"The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness." Man, The Dwelling Place of God

"Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience." Of God and Men "When we go to God with a request, there are two conditions we must meet: [1] we must pray in the will of God, and [2] we must be living lives pleasing to God." Does God Always Answer Prayer

"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ." Paths to Power

"...the religion of today is not transforming the people; rather it is being transformed by people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender." The Price of Neglect

"...we have salvation without righteousness and right doctrine without right deeds." Of God and Men

"The need for solitude and quietness was never so great than it is today." Of God and Men

"When the followers of Jesus Christ lose their interest in heaven they will no longer be happy Christians and when they are no longer happy Christians they cannot be a powerful force in a sad and sinful world." Who Put Jesus on the Cross

"The man that believes will obey; failure to obey is convincing proof that there is no true faith present. To attempt the impossible God must give faith or there will be none, and He gives faith to the obedient heart only." Man the Dwelling Place of God

"In that presence [presence of God], Isaiah found no place for joking or for clever cynicism or for human familiarity. He found strangeness in God, that is, a presence unknown to the sinful and worldly and self-sufficient human." Whatever Happened to Worship?

"It is scarcely possible in most paces to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God." Man the Dwelling Place of God

Avoiding Anxiety

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

No matter what the circumstance we have the opportunity to find comfort and hope. Instead we often take the pathway that places us in an anxious state of mind. Years ago, I save a list of mistakes to avoid in difficult times. Below is the list by an unknown author:

Remorse over yesterday’s failure.
Anxiety over today’s problems.
Worry over tomorrow’s uncertainty.
Waste of the moment’s opportunity.
Procrastination with one’s present duty.
Resentment of another’s success.
Criticism of a neighbor’s imperfections.
Impatience with youth’s immaturity.
Skepticism of our nation’s future.
Unbelief in God’s providences.

To this list of things to avoid I will give you my list of things to do.

Learn to be thankful.
Make your requests known to God.
Know God’s Word.Trust God.
Don’t focus on your circumstances for they constantly change.
Focus on God and His Word for they never change.
Look at your situation as a stepping-stone not a stumbling block.
Look for ways to minister to others in your moments of difficulty.
Have a loving attitude – rejoice in others successes.
Do your duty right the first time; it saves a lot of time and trouble.

These two lists represent two separate pathways. One pathway will be filled with anxiety and produce a sense of futility and the other will be filled with opportunities and produce hope. Everyday you stand at the crossroads and must make a choice. What will it be?

What's Wrong with America?

Disappointed and angry by the media at the choice of the Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate for his choice for Vice – President, the media has turned on the Republican’s choice for Vice – President. They have viciously attached her and her family. Instead of reporting the news, they have editorialized. No reporting of the facts without editorial comment. This is a prime example of what is wrong with America – we have lost all sense of civility!

What has happened to speaking the truth in love[1]? Yes, the press should ask questions about what she believes, her political philosophies, and her character. Their job is to report the facts not to turn the story into an editorial with the intention of character assassination and the advancement of their own personal political agenda.

The problem is that this type of behavior is not just found in the press but in every facet of life in America. When people are elevated above us, get recognition we felt we should have gotten or simply make what we think was a bad call at a Little League Game, our anger turns to maliciousness, civility disappears and we are not satisfied until we have destroyed the object of our wrath. What has happened to speech filled with grace and salt[2]? This type of speech is marked by wholesomeness not bitterness.

What is the underlying cause for this kind of behavior? An over exaggerated sense of self-importance, selfishness. People are willing to use what means necessary to get recognized or get their “fair” share even if it means maliciously attacking and destroying other people.

It’s time for Christians to act like Christians. It’s time for us to demonstrate the mind of Christ. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? It is serving others rather than seeking to be served. Caring for the well being of others rather than seeking our well being at the expense of other. Seeking to edify others rather tear them down. Showing true love for others not using other for one’s own gain.

Can you imagine what our political process would be like if all reporters, liberal, conservative and all in-between, actually tried to use decency when reporting the news? Can you imagine what the political process would be like if all reporters, liberal, conservative and all in-between, stopped using people for their personal gain or advance their agenda? Can you imagine what the political process would be like if all reporters, liberal, conservative and all in-between, chose to speak the truth in love rather than speak in anger, bitterness and malice[3]? I wonder how many reporters realize they can successfully report the news and at the same time demonstrate kindness?

What’s wrong with America? We have become a nation of selfish, angry, malicious people who do not want to be treated the way we treat others. We have forgotten that Jesus said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.[4]” The time and place to restore civility to the national psyche is right now, right where you are. Are you up to the test? Are you willing to demonstrate the mind of Christ? All it takes to begin to change things is for you, for me to put into practice the teaching of Jesus, to demonstrate the mind of Christ. It will change the atmosphere in your home, where your work, in your school, in your church and in your community.

[1] Ephesians 4:15
[2] Colossians 4:6
[3] Ephesians 4:31 -32
[4] Luke 6:31

Comfort for Difficult Times

Jeremiah found himself in a very stressful situation. Walking through the city of Jerusalem, he could see the total destruction of the city. The walls were torn down, the temple was utterly destroyed and everywhere he turned was the stench of death. His ears were filled with the cries of distress. What broke his heart was that his people were comfortless – no one cared about them. Everywhere he turned Israel’s adversaries mocked and made fun of their tragedy.

Israel’s hopelessness was self-inflicted, “she remembered not her latter end.” [Lamentations 1:9] Adding to her distress was Israel’s loneliness. “She had none to comfort her…she findeth no rest…none did help…she had no comforter…see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow…the comforter who should relieve my soul was far from me…there is none to comfort her…there is none to comfort her.” [Lamentations 1:2, 3, 7, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21]

In times of distress I have often felt lonely, forgotten and helpless looking for comfort and not finding any. It was during those moments, I learned the lesson Jeremiah learned. As he goes on to tell us of the devastation of the city and the plight of the people, he also reveals his own personal affliction. He concludes with these words, “Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” [3:19, 20]

Here is Jeremiah as low as he can possibly be. At that precise moment he stops looking at the plight of the city and his own afflictions and begins to focus upon the goodness of God. The result is hopelessness gives way to hope. Listen again as he speaks, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope” [3:21].

What does he recall that gives him hope? “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” [3:22 – 26]

Right there we see the reason for us to hope in life’s most desperate circumstances. Whatever our trial we must never forget that the source of our hope is the great faithfulness of God. When I find myself overwhelmed by my circumstances, I find comfort in the great hymns of the faith, none more comforting than the words of the hymn writer Thomas O. Chislom who wrote:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

There is comfort in praise. God-centered, biblically based music lifts my soul and strengthens my spirit by giving me hope in the most hopeless of circumstances.