|
Jesus did it, so can we! That's what He said! If you want to experience, 'you will do greater than this' in your life time, join us for camp-meeting! June 16-18 here at the Farm.We will camp/cook-out, geo-cashing, bouldering, team/leadership building activities with the horses (no riding required), live passionate worship, and life challenging preaching by Pastor James Smith of Willow Springs Church! If you know you were born for 'such a time as this', you need to be here! Live Worship nightly and everyone is welcome!
Our journey of life has landed us in some tough spots lately. The economic crisis is more than just news. It's reality for many. Jobs lost, stores and businesses barely making it and many families losing their homes and having to start all over. It's not just here but world-wide. (Having just returned from Europe and Africa I can attest to the turmoil and lost hope in many hearts from other lands.) Just when we seem to see some small positive signs and our hope thermometer begins to warm a bit we get hit with news of a possible pandemic of influenza virus. So much uncertainty. One thing is sure, many people are thinking and wondering. I would even say that many are searching for something to anchor their hope to. Our leaders try to arouse positive things in us. They point to the future as if they can see what most can't, a hopeful sight just over the horizon. But just what should we be looking for?
I'm reminded of another journey by a nation of slaves into the hope of freedom and blessing in a land of promise. Israel had left Egypt where they were captive servants (It took many miracles to get them out) and were making progress on their trip. A short three days into their exodus they were confronted with a very daunting problem. They were in a desert with no water. Nearly three million needed to drink but from where? When they finally found a place where water could be had they rejoiced as they slaked their thirst. But their rejoicing was short lived. The water was poison. Those who drank it got sick. Their immediate response was just like ours. They got mad at their leader (Moses) and complained against him. They had hoped for a land of promise and now they were thirsty and sick with no hope of going anywhere. Yet they were precisely where they needed to be. Before they were ready for the gift of their own land they needed some adjustments in their own hearts and lives. And this crisis was going to help them receive just that.
When Moses saw the situation developing he did a very wise thing. He cried out to God for help. And help he got. The Bible says that God showed him a tree and told him to cast it into the poisoned water and it would become sweet or pure. What we see is that God arranged the situation in order that He might show the entire nation that they needed him. And what they needed most was His gift of the tree.
The tree Moses saw was more than just a hunk of wood. It represented the bright spot of hope for all humanity yet to come. The death of Jesus Christ the Son of God on the cross. It was on that tree on good Friday that the sin and resulting penalty for all mankind was paid for. He was murdered there as our substitute. His blood paid our ransom demanded by the heavenly court of justice so that we might be free.
I believe God also arranges (allows) events today that seem very bad in order that something very good will happen out of them. America has left God and His word given to guide our lives. We have believed (in vain) that mankind is the source of our hope and now we find ourselves looking at a world full of problems that man cannot solve. But for those who will cry out to God in sincerity He will show them His special tree. And if you will place it in your life, your bitterness and poison will be turned sweet! The tree of healing is the cross of Jesus where He died in our place. Placing it in our lives means we repent of living for ourselves and make the now risen Jesus our Lord in word and practice. When we do that not only does our life change but we are made ready to meet God and are given the gift of eternal life. When enough of us do this our country can easily move past our pit stop of trouble and get back to being and doing what God wants. May He help us all to do it! more reviews..moFrom Christian / re review |
