"All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive." (Psalm 22:29)
There is a great deception in the world that man can, "keep himself alive," that he can get the most out of his life by, "You can do anything, if you just put your mind to it."
The thought occurred to me this morning that I really don't know what "life" for me would be like without Jesus. I can tell you, though, it would be dark, lonely, melancholy, without purpose, empty. Now some might be quick to say that is the reality for all people. Perhaps, but some people have a greater capacity to either cover all that, or just find "deliverance" in someone or something else. But not for this poor sinner. Nothing ever brought this reality to me in a greater way than the loss of our oldest son.
The very dangerous reality of life is that some people are getting along quite satisfactorily without Jesus Christ living within them. Some people are just stronger than others. Their inner coping mechanisms have been developed by a strong pride, "work ethic," a self-assured personality. Yet all of this "strength" was developed over the years in a life devoid of a deep personal relationship in Jesus Christ. They are living the greatest illusion of all. If they yield to Christ's mercy, there will come a time when they realize just how fruitless is such a self-reliant life. If they don't, they will go to the grave, strong, prosperous, eating, but, "down to the dust," with eternal Judgment awaiting them.
I am needy, weak, and fragile. I have no problem admitting this. The sad state of the "strong" is they don't realize this. Our text says that some day, "All...shall...worship; all...shall bow before Him...." Some will do so, then hear, "Depart from Me." Those, however, who realize that without Jesus they are, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," will hear, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for keeping me ever mindful of just how very much I need You. Amen.
***********************
Rocket Attacks Continue in Israel: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
There is a great deception in the world that man can, "keep himself alive," that he can get the most out of his life by, "You can do anything, if you just put your mind to it."
The thought occurred to me this morning that I really don't know what "life" for me would be like without Jesus. I can tell you, though, it would be dark, lonely, melancholy, without purpose, empty. Now some might be quick to say that is the reality for all people. Perhaps, but some people have a greater capacity to either cover all that, or just find "deliverance" in someone or something else. But not for this poor sinner. Nothing ever brought this reality to me in a greater way than the loss of our oldest son.
The very dangerous reality of life is that some people are getting along quite satisfactorily without Jesus Christ living within them. Some people are just stronger than others. Their inner coping mechanisms have been developed by a strong pride, "work ethic," a self-assured personality. Yet all of this "strength" was developed over the years in a life devoid of a deep personal relationship in Jesus Christ. They are living the greatest illusion of all. If they yield to Christ's mercy, there will come a time when they realize just how fruitless is such a self-reliant life. If they don't, they will go to the grave, strong, prosperous, eating, but, "down to the dust," with eternal Judgment awaiting them.
I am needy, weak, and fragile. I have no problem admitting this. The sad state of the "strong" is they don't realize this. Our text says that some day, "All...shall...worship; all...shall bow before Him...." Some will do so, then hear, "Depart from Me." Those, however, who realize that without Jesus they are, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," will hear, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for keeping me ever mindful of just how very much I need You. Amen.
***********************
Rocket Attacks Continue in Israel: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
