Pastor James May
CONSIDER THE LILIES
Matthew 6:26-29, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if man lived in a Utopian state? Have you seen the commercials on TV that begin by describing a place called “Perfect”?
In that place called “Perfect” there are no –
Automobile accidents
Disabling diseases
Overdue bills
Rebellious teenagers
Jobs that you hate
Jobs that you lose
Cars that break down
Houses that need painting
Long-winded preachers
And your dinner is always cooked just right and on time, every time.
Wouldn’t you like to live there!
Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind has searched for that perfect place. Inside the heart of hearts of each of us there is that innate desire to live in a perfect, sinless, pristine condition where the storms of life can never come. Oh, that such a place would exist!
But mankind has never attained unto that perfect state of life. In fact, it seems the harder we try, the farther we go from perfection.
Illustration:
John Quincy Adams held more important offices than anyone else in the history of the U.S. He served with distinction as president, senator, congressman, minister to major European powers, and participated in various capacities in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and events leading to the Civil War. Yet, at age 70, with much of that behind him, he wrote, "My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook."
Charles Sell, Unfinished Business, Multnomah, 1989, p. 233.
After a long absence from the stage, pianist Vladimir Horowitz was to perform in Chicago. Franz Mohr, the chief concert technician for Steinway and Sons, was assigned to make sure the piano was in perfect condition. He did so to the best of his ability, but wasn’t able to relax until Horowitz had given a brilliant rendering of his first number. As was his custom, the pianist left the stage -- but didn’t return. Mohr was summoned backstage. "Where have you been?" exclaimed Horowitz. "I cannot play again. The piano stool is far too high!" Mohr nervously inquired at to the size of the problem. Horowitz held up his hand, his thumb and forefinger about a quarter of an inch apart.
Today in the Word, March 25, 1993.
These are but two small examples of man’s inability to ever reach a place of perfection on his own terms.
The reason that man has such a strong inward desire to reach that place of perfection is because he was created into and destined to live in just such a place from the day that God formed him from the dust of the earth and breathed life in him.
Does a place called “Perfect” actually exist? Will mankind ever experience the bliss of the Garden of Eden once again? The answer of course is, yes! Such a place does exist, though it isn’t named “Perfect”. It’s called Heaven, or the New Jerusalem, and it is a place where all those who have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb will go someday.
But while we are here on this earth we must never forget that we will continue to face the storms of life.
Just this week we have been reminded of how quickly a storm can come upon us; not just a storm of nature with it’s winds, lightning, hail and rain; but a storm of a spiritual nature. It is hard for us to understand why some things are allowed to happen in our lives.
God, we are called to your purpose. We are walking according to your will. We are doing all we can to render the service to the Kingdom of God that you desire of us. So, why do bad things happen to the people of God?
I am reminded of the fact that the disciples of Jesus were out in the sea when the storm arose about them. Their little ship was driven with the wind and tossed about like a cork in a storm upon the water. They feared for their very lives.
Jesus had told them to go to the other shore. He had said that he would join them there. Little did they understand how Jesus would travel across the sea to the other shore. Jesus came walking on the water, above the storm. The power of the winds and the waves was not demonstrated against him for he was the Creator; the One who had spoken those very winds and waves into existence.
Jesus had said, "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…", but the disciples certainly felt alone in the midst of that storm.
Have you ever been in that place called “Alone”? At least you felt alone! Jesus, I know that you promised to never leave me, but where are you right now? I can’t see you Lord! I don’t feel you Lord! I can’t hear your voice, Lord! Where are you?
Just like those disciples, I have often found myself drowning in the troubles of this life. It seems that I sinking fast, perhaps even going down for the last time, when suddenly, out of the blackness of those troubles, the mighty hand of God reaches out and lifts me up, above the storm, one more time.
We all know that storms are allowed to come at us to build our faith and test our commitment to the Lord but that doesn’t make them any easier.
Thank God that he walks above the storm and that none of those things take him by surprise. Thank God that he is already at work to bring those troubles to an end. Thank God that he can turn the greatest disaster into a great blessing!
I know that we all have heard of the story of Job and how that God allowed Satan to do everything but kill him. Sometimes we wonder if God is going to allow Satan to take us that far too.
God wants to know if we will trust him and serve him even when things are less than perfect! Will we serve him when the house is gone, the car is gone, our health is failing and everyone turns against us?
I want to remind you that Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy and he never sleeps and never rests. He is always scheming and planning ways to bring you down. If it weren’t for the grace of God and mercy of God, I dare say that none of us would be here right now. Satan would have taken us out a long time ago if he could have. Thank God for the limitations that God places upon the devil.
Even with the calm assurance that Jesus is with us always; there are still times when we tend to worry ourselves about everything that could happen. How often have we missed God’s blessing because we were fearful to take that step of faith?
If we were to wake up tomorrow morning and stop long enough to think of all the things that could happen to us during the day, I wonder how many would step out in faith anyway? If you think of it that way, life becomes almost unbearable. There are a lot of “what ifs”, or variables in our lives that can be sources of concern. Will my car make it to work? Will I get sick? Will I get fired? Will I have an accident? Will I make it home again safely? Will my home be here when I come back? What about my kids, my spouse, my whatever? Does that give you enough to worry about or do you want me to go on? The list of things that we can worry about is endless – but if you dwell on the “what ifs”, that worry will drive you into a state of panic and then they just may start coming true.
It’s kind of like a “self-fulfilling prophecy” for the want of a better term.
We worry that we won’t make it to work on time, so we speed up and go faster than the law allows. We get pulled over for speeding and then we really are late for work.” We fulfilled our own prophecy.
We worry that we are going to get ill. The worry causes our stress level to rise, which in turn, brings on all kinds of physical symptoms that will eventually make us ill. That too is self-fulfilling prophecy.
Matthew 6:27, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"
I know too many people that miss God’s best because they aren’t willing to take a risk at failure. The only people who don’t fail are those who don’t try and by not trying, they are automatically failures. You are a failure if you make a mistake. You’re only a failure if you quit trying.
Surely the storms of life will come. They will often come when you least expect them. That makes them a better test of your faith. We would all like it if the troubles that we will face were known before they happened so that we could plan better, but that’s not faith. God wants to see how you will react in the times of trouble. Will you react in faith and trust, or doubt and fear?
Too often Christians think that being a Christian makes them immune to the attacks of the devil or that the storms of life should just by-pass them because they are a Child of God. Exactly the opposite is true. I have seen those who turn their backs on God and walk out of the church because God didn’t stop the storm from coming against them.
Consider the birds of the air. They build their nests and provide for their young but how often does a strong wind come along that destroys their nest and disrupts the feeding of their young? Even so, God says that he cares for them and supplies their need.
Have you ever seen a bird in the wild that starved to death? God provides for them. What makes us think that he cares any less for us?
Consider the lilies of the field. They don’t fertilize the ground that they grow in and they don’t provide their own rain. God provides every necessity for their existence and they want for nothing.
We have a loving, Heavenly Father, who cares for his children. He hurts when we hurt, but his love must allow the hurt to come to make us strong. He cries when we cry but the cries will come because those are often the only times we will seek his face in earnest.
Let us never forget that we live in an imperfect world, around imperfect people, who invent and build imperfect things to sell to other imperfect people like you and I. Wow, no wonder everything is so imperfect!
There is a place of perfection for the Child of God. That perfection is not in the realm of the physical, even though we often try to make rules and regulations to make this body of flesh act perfect. That place of perfection is in the realm of the Spirit. Only when we allow the Holy Spirit to live within us, lead us into all truth, and trust in the Lord, will we ever reach that place of spiritual perfection. It only comes through the power of the Blood of Jesus to wash away every stain.
I know that his is a very simple message but perhaps we just need to be reminded from time to time that God has everything under control
There’s an old song that says, “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. The God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day, is still God in the night.” Thank God, He’s still God! He’s still God! He’s still God – and nothing is too hard for Him!
Thank God for his faithfulness! Thank God for his promise to never leave us! Thank God for his power to heal, to bless, to forgive and to wash us from all sin! Thank God for supplying our every need! Thank God for his love, his patience and for watching over us!
Yes, Consider the Lilies, Consider the fowls of the air – just look at how carefully God takes care for them.
How much more does God watch over, fret over, if you will, his own children? How much more does God care for his children, created in his own image; his children, hand picked and chosen from among all men on the earth to call his own; his own children, that Jesus went to the cross and died for?
Thank God that you are the “apple of his eye”!
Thank God that His eyes are ever watching over the Righteous!
Thank God that the Good Shepherd never sleeps!
Thank God that Abba Father loves us!
Thank God that his love never fails!
Thank God that his power is more than I could ever need!
David said in Psalms 37:23-26, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed."
Give him praise as we close this message and thank God for all of his wonderful blessings to us!
