There are times we feel helpless, and rightfully so, in that the circumstances in life are beyond our control. As I write these words, it is -25 degrees outside. I can do nothing about the cold, and must respond to it appropriately, or face dire consequences.
As I write these words, the family of a dear friend of mine is preparing for his memorial service. He was a loving family man who was serving our Lord in a foreign country. He was a man who valued relationships, exercised regularly, and focused on bringing the Word of God to a people who never had the Word of God. One day, after a run, he, unexpectedly, had a heart attack and died.
The extreme cold and the unexpected heart attack indeed demonstrate our helplessness. This helplessness is not without hope. For those who live in a northern climate, the reality of cold temperatures is something for which we prepare. I spent much time during mild weather cutting wood, maintaining natural gas lines and equipment, making sure our chimneys were clean, and keeping up our cars charging systems. I made sure our portable generators were gassed up and ready, and stockpiled gasoline for the generator, snowblowers, and vehicles.
My preparation did not make me feel less helpless. It made me feel prepared and hopeful. As I sit here today, sipping a hot cup of coffee and looking at a blazing fire in the fireplace, my home is warm and cozy.
Likewise, my friends’ family, in many ways, may, for a good reason, feel helpless today. There is nothing they can do to change a difficult situation. They did not control the day my friend was born, or the day he died. As helpless as they are, they are not hopeless, for they have clearly understood and prepared for such a day as this. They know that their loved one is in the presence of God as he had accepted His offer of salvation.
Every human is helpless, but no human being needs to be hopeless.
It is a real disaster when one is both helpless and hopeless, and those who have no relationship with God continually live in such a state. Those who are without God live unprepared lives. They are unprepared for the eventual certainties of life.
To compensate, they do their best to control what they think they can control. Mostly they control their image, their public persona. In reality, though, they are frightened, alone, and afraid of being found out. They surround themselves with people who will reinforce what they think about themselves, while at the same time discrediting them, in their minds, because they know they have believed a lie.
Their power gives them satisfaction, and they use their money, status, and position to satisfy their need to feel they're in control, not realizing that in the end, their money, status, and position will disappear, and they will be hopeless as well as helpless.
Those who are in God’s family have hope in their Father, for He is the one who controls all the situations in life that render us helpless. The fact that we admit our helplessness and turn to Him, our Helper, allows us to be empowered, and delivers the hope of which the Godless world can only dream.
We know that winter comes and we know that it is appointed for every person to die, and after death to face judgment. Those who prepare for such things may never “enjoy” the extreme cold or the separation of loved ones, but they will enjoy a peace that passes understanding in that they had made the necessary preparations and entrusted the only One worthy of trust.
For now, the choice is ours.
As I write these words, the family of a dear friend of mine is preparing for his memorial service. He was a loving family man who was serving our Lord in a foreign country. He was a man who valued relationships, exercised regularly, and focused on bringing the Word of God to a people who never had the Word of God. One day, after a run, he, unexpectedly, had a heart attack and died.
The extreme cold and the unexpected heart attack indeed demonstrate our helplessness. This helplessness is not without hope. For those who live in a northern climate, the reality of cold temperatures is something for which we prepare. I spent much time during mild weather cutting wood, maintaining natural gas lines and equipment, making sure our chimneys were clean, and keeping up our cars charging systems. I made sure our portable generators were gassed up and ready, and stockpiled gasoline for the generator, snowblowers, and vehicles.
My preparation did not make me feel less helpless. It made me feel prepared and hopeful. As I sit here today, sipping a hot cup of coffee and looking at a blazing fire in the fireplace, my home is warm and cozy.
Likewise, my friends’ family, in many ways, may, for a good reason, feel helpless today. There is nothing they can do to change a difficult situation. They did not control the day my friend was born, or the day he died. As helpless as they are, they are not hopeless, for they have clearly understood and prepared for such a day as this. They know that their loved one is in the presence of God as he had accepted His offer of salvation.
Every human is helpless, but no human being needs to be hopeless.
It is a real disaster when one is both helpless and hopeless, and those who have no relationship with God continually live in such a state. Those who are without God live unprepared lives. They are unprepared for the eventual certainties of life.
To compensate, they do their best to control what they think they can control. Mostly they control their image, their public persona. In reality, though, they are frightened, alone, and afraid of being found out. They surround themselves with people who will reinforce what they think about themselves, while at the same time discrediting them, in their minds, because they know they have believed a lie.
Their power gives them satisfaction, and they use their money, status, and position to satisfy their need to feel they're in control, not realizing that in the end, their money, status, and position will disappear, and they will be hopeless as well as helpless.
Those who are in God’s family have hope in their Father, for He is the one who controls all the situations in life that render us helpless. The fact that we admit our helplessness and turn to Him, our Helper, allows us to be empowered, and delivers the hope of which the Godless world can only dream.
We know that winter comes and we know that it is appointed for every person to die, and after death to face judgment. Those who prepare for such things may never “enjoy” the extreme cold or the separation of loved ones, but they will enjoy a peace that passes understanding in that they had made the necessary preparations and entrusted the only One worthy of trust.
For now, the choice is ours.
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