He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men to be happy and do good while they live…So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him? Ephesians 3:11-12…22.
Life can run away with us. We believers can have more in common with the characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby than we would like to admit. Perhaps we are not chasing riches and opulence, but sometimes serving the Lord slides into a pursuit of more activities, programs, power and good works so that in the end, we find ourselves depleted, disillusioned and empty. What went wrong? We can find ourselves feeling far from the Lover of our souls.
I remember feeling disillusioned the first time I ever read the Bible cover to cover. As I worked my way through the Old Testament, I understood the the fatigue of Ecclesiastes’ author; the people of Israel would find God, enjoy the benefits of the relationship and then be inevitably be led away and meet with disaster. Eternity was in their hearts, but it did not seem to be enough to sustain them. Try as they would, their best attempts at following God did not hold. The cycle scared me.
Enter Christ. Enter grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. Saint Paul, 2 Timothy 1:9-10…12.
Lord Jesus, you are Grace made flesh and blood. Thank you for going to the Cross and defeating death so that I am delivered from all that would lead me away from you. Father, you call me by name; your arms reach out for me and welcome me home. Spirit, you live within me and guide my steps. Hold me fast this day. Amen.
klueh
Sixty-six books in a year 