Stay Positive, Stay Strong
John 16:2-3
“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
In a world today that is so filled with uncertainty and darkness at times, it is hard to find the peace and joy that Jesus tells us about, but when we least expect it we can see God working in His people and it reminds us that He has not forgotten us and is working in our lives. This past week I was volunteering at the seniors lunch at my church which we have once a month. We have a speaker or speakers at these lunches and they are always very good. At this lunch we had two young people who are training in our Artizo program to work in ministry and hopefully become preachers or work in ministry. There is definitely a need for this as it was said at the lunch that in Canada in the next five to seven years a large number of preachers will be retiring and this gap needs to be filled by faithful gospel preachers which are sadly lacking today. Each one of them spoke on how God led them on this journey and it was not easy as each of them encountered obstacles along the way but they persisted with God’s guidance and they both admitted that their faith became very strong through the process. I totally admire both of them for their dedication to serve the Lord even though in one case his family was very upset with him for choosing this path as they wanted him to become a doctor, and the other had very serious health issues while making this decision but persevered through relying on God, and they were able to make it into the program from their home in New York.
Some of the others from the Artizo program are now working as ministers at our church and others have gone on to other churches and it makes me realize that we don’t always see how God is working to bring His people to Him. The young people today are especially looking for structure and something to believe in. I have found the young ministers that are working at our church after going through this program are quite exceptional and all have very interesting stories as to how God brought them through all they had to go through to get where they are. Two of the young men that are now ministers at our church are from the USA. I am friends with both of them and their young families. Their stories are so unique you realize God was involved in getting them here.
Who know what else God is doing behind the scenes now in this corrupt world but His word will not go out void, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11). Whenever I hear these stories it makes me realize that although our Israel nations seem like they are dying, God is still working in His people and as events continue and more young people search for the truth hopefully they will be led to the Lord and through the Holy Spirit find a relationship with Jesus Christ. Both these young people who spoke at the lunch were brought up as Christians but were not really sure of how they felt in the world and what to do with their belief in God. As God led them along He helped them by bringing people into their lives that led them in a new direction. That helped them to grow in their faith. I think at times we all need a bit of that to happen in our lives. I think that is why, as much as possible, we are to assemble with others to encourage and support each other. The world doesn’t really give you that deep feeling of connection with a loving God who cares for you and wants the best for you. This is what is missing in the world today. A quote from C.S. Lewis on the website cslewis.com says, “All our modern philosophies have been devised to convince us that the good man is to be found on this earth,” says Lewis. “And yet it is a remarkable thing that such philosophies of Progress or Creative Evolution themselves bear reluctant witness to the truth that our real goal is elsewhere.”… “It’s just not the Gospel.” I’ll end with this ending on his website which I have to admit I have felt the words shown here, which became a hymn.
Yes, the beat of creation and beauty is a rhythm we are invited to join, and as we do, we share in the longing all creation feels, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The hymn published by Albert E. Brumley, a few years after Lewis’s death (so he wouldn’t know it) says…
