These are exciting times! Yes, I know the world is a mess. I still get the local paper, although many days I do threaten to cancel my subscription. I keep one eye on the middle east and one turned upward to the heavens expecting Jesus to return any day now. And, I’m with you: this broken, sinful place we live is, in so many ways, falling apart. Japan is suffering unimaginably. A child was murdered by his father this weekend right here in Louisville. A new mother remains hospitalized, fighting for her life because of an infection she got in the hospital having a C-section. These are merely a few of the horrific happenings on planet earth.
Still, these are exciting times.
Why? Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrew 13:8)! Because God is moving, working, wooing and rescuing in miraculous ways every single day. He is still saving souls from sin-sickness. He is God alone; God on the throne. His promises are unshakable.
This past week another two women pulled me aside to proclaim God at work moments in their prodigal’s lives.
A mother stopped to tell me that her long-prayed-for prodigal son called from Colorado to inform her that he attended a service at a local church this past week. When she asked what he thought, he replied that it seemed OK and that he’s not the only one there with tattoos. What a tremendous first step in the right direction.
I witnessed first-hand another prodigal’s giant step yesterday when a husband/son-in-law that many have been fiercely interceding for over the past year, attended services at our church. His mother-in-law passed me a quickly scribbled note informing me of his presence. Moments later I found myself standing in the atrium shaking his hand.
Miracles still happen! Two young men who for so long would rather be anywhere but church, sitting in God’s house, among God’s people, hearing the Word of God proclaimed – that’s God’s mighty right hand at work. They are not fully home, but they are thinking things over.
Don’t you let the enemy convince you that we’re loosing this war. We can’t loose. Jesus has already one. To paraphrase the words of Helen H. Lemmel’s hymn: O soul are you weary and troubled, no light in this darkness you see? Turn your eyes (back) upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!
Remember: you may be the answer to another prodigal lover’s prayer! You never know who that might be sitting there next to you in church . . . or for that matter, in your Doctor’s office waiting room, or at the basketball game or on the airplane . . . Be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope within you (1 Peter 3:15)!
Did you catch that? A reason for the hope. When we have Jesus, we do have hope.
Leave a Reply