Friday, February 21, 2020

“An Adage and An Assurance”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe….


"An Adage and An Assurance"
   
      "Time passes.  Will you?"

     I recall the small placard strategically placed just above the chalkboard by my 7th grade Social Studies teacher Mr. Swilley.  He was just the kind of fellow you would expect to present such a wry challenge to his students.   I am relieved to report that I did pass, and actually did pretty well in his class.  I have always enjoyed the study of history and how human beings through the ages have found ways to live with one another, and sadly, to quite frequently not live with one another.

    Time does indeed pass.  Wasn't it only yesterday I pondered that adage above Mr. Swilley's chalkboard?  Or was it 50 years ago?  (t'was the latter!).  This would   comprise a disturbing thought were it not for another truism I think about far more often than Mr. Swilley's axiom:

    "My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:15).

    The eternal God offers the assurance of His perpetual and involved presence to born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  From conception to our passage into forever, the great fact of our existence has been and will be His promise, "I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).  We venture not alone through the stages of our earthly sojourn, which provides the most blessed assurance imaginable to our needy hearts.  Indeed, the Spirit of God and the Word of God continually beckon us to join Moses, who "endured, as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27).  Our Lord assures us that our "times" rest in a Hand that strategically places not adages above chalkboards, but rather every era of life into the glorious purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).  All bear eternal significance and meaning, regardless of circumstance, situation, or condition.   "God… worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:3; 11).

   None of us know what the days, weeks, months, and years will bring to the doorstep of our hearts and lives.  We do know, however, Who will bring all things by His determinations and allowances.  We can forget that great fact sometimes.  Mr. Swilley's adage reminds me, however, to think of the Psalmist's assurance.  Our times - all of them - are in our Lord's hand, or in the fullness of New Testament light, His nail-pierced hands.  Thank you, Mr. Swilley.  And thank You far more, Heavenly Father, for the peace of Your promise and its pledge of Your loving presence…

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
(Psalm 23:6)

Weekly Memory Verse
   "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice."
(Philippians 4:4)

























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