God's Song Of Joy

God’s Song of Joy

Sunday, April 11, 2010 – AM

By Pastor James May

There is an old hymn that we often sing that says, “What have I to fear; what have I to dread? I’m leaning on the everlasting arms. I have blessed peace with my Lord so near; leaning on the everlasting arms.” Are you leaning on those everlasting arms this morning? We live in a day when fear stalks the land and, as the scripture prophesied, men’s hearts are failing them for fear. And with each passing day that fear grows deeper and stronger. But the Child of God, whose heart is stayed upon Jesus, has no fear.

1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." Satan loves to torment God’s people if they will allow him to. He will steal your peace by making you so busy that you forget to cultivate that love relationship with Jesus. It is always easy to spot those who are not as close to the Lord as they should be. You can see it in their eyes; you can hear it in their voice; and you can see in the way in which they live.

As you can see from this verse, perfect Love; that love that can only be experienced in Christ, will bring victory over fear, for perfect love brings peace and trust to the heart and life of God’s people. The world knows no peace. Even in those times when peace seems to be at hand, there’s always an underlying storm just waiting to break forth upon them.

A Christian who is truly in Love with the Lord should not be overly concerned with what is going on in the earth. Think about when you are traveling through a city that is not your hometown while you’re on a vacation, or some kind of trip. You can ride along and see the political signs if there’s a local election, or the news on the local TV stations and you can even see where the economy may be either faltering or bustling. But what does that really matter to you? You’re a stranger and a pilgrim traveling through; on your way to somewhere else. Let the local people take care of their own problems. After all, you have enough problems of your own, don’t you?

Now I’m not saying that we should ignore what’s going on in the earth. As long as we live here, what goes on will have its effect upon us, so it’s good to be aware of what is happening. But we should never get so involved with the things of this life that we forget that this isn’t our final destination. We are just passing through. I’m on my way to Glory Land. This world is not my home. My treasures are laid up in Heaven and that’s where I’m going.

I may leave a few dollars here and there while I’m traveling. I might have to pick up something to eat, or rent a room for the night, or put gas in the car; but I’m not stopping to make an investment in the local real estate market. My home has already been established; and unless I’m planning on spending a lot of time somewhere else, why do I need a second one. My treasures, my investment, my property is right here so why get involved elsewhere when I have nothing to lose but those few temporary, minor things that I’ve had to use in a strange place?

The problem I see with a lot of Christians is that they have far too much treasure right here on earth and it tends to weaken their resolve to get to that heavenly home, and it keeps them from making the right investment in the that eternal home.

Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

We all have to work and earn a living for our families while we live, and that requires investment in time, money and personal sacrifice. To not provide for our family is to be considered as worse than a non-Believer because even sinners provide for their families.

The problem arises when we begin to try to live such a lifestyle here that we don’t have time or energy to invest in the Kingdom of God. What’s more important to you right now? Is it building a better, bigger house to live in right now, or is your first priority to invest in the work of the Lord and add value to your heavenly home? The scripture bears out the fact that there will be differences in our heavenly reward based upon how much we have invested there while we were yet living on the earth.