May 20
1 Sam 26:1-28:25 | PS 117:1-2 | Prov 15:22-23 | John 11:1-54
Two people get sick, one is healed, one is not. Two people are in the same catastrophe, one escapes, the other dies. This leads to problems with many as these life changing events sometimes don't make sense from a human level. But God knows everything. This is why eternity is so important to grasp, for when things might not make earthly sense, eternity helps make sense of it. Our outlook is crucial during these times. Jesus stated in John 11:25-26, "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”" In this circumstance we understand why Lazarus had to die. Back in John 9, we understand why that man was born blind. But often in our day to day lives we don't get this level of clarity. That is why it is so important to keep our eyes on God continuously.
We see David step out boldly in faith as he is once again trapped by Saul and his elite troops. We see God working behind the scene as we read in 1 Samuel 26:12, "So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them." Yet, no sooner does David complete this confrontation in faith, that he loses his faith and steps out in self, in his own logic and intellect in 27:1, "And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.”" This "man after God's own heart" varied one day from another. Soon we will see Saul and his sons die in battle. One may ask why did Jonathon, this amazing example of faith have to die, while his general, Abner, survived. We simply don't have these answers.
Though Jesus certainly knows He has the power over life and death, many of those around Him still could not grasp this, which is why we read in John 11:41-44, "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”" There are simply purposes in God's plan for us that we cannot fathom. When calamity and illness strike we must remember that we serve a God who is more loving, more faithful, more merciful, more gracious, than we could ever be. We may not understand everything, but we must learn to accept God's verdicts and trust Him. Like David, we will have good days and bad days, days of faith and days of self-centeredness, but through it all life will make more sense when we place our faith and hope in Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: