Encouragement
'Is Your Life on a Shaky Ladder...or The Solid Rock?
by Travis Wiginton
09/30/05
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These days, I am a little unstable in my legs and my balance is not as good as it used to be. I went to Physical Therapy for 2 months and that helped some, but it takes more. So, I now use a cane some (I call it my 'precautionary stick').
The word 'unstable' is used only 2 times in the Bible.
Genesis 49:1f:
"Jacob gathers his children and says to Reuben (the first born), 'You are as unstable as water, you shall not excel because of a dreadful sin within the family."
II Peter 2:14 speaks of the need to 'cease from beguiling unstable souls'.
Other examples in the Old Testament are the Israelites in the wilderness and in the New Testament, Peter is one of several 'unstable souls'.
After years of athletics, yard-work, and so forth, it is somewhat discouraging to be so unstable in my legs now, but I hope that I'm not unstable in the spiritual and with my Lord.
One of many Scriptures that have helped me, is:
"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
(I have a coffee cup with this verse on it...that I use to start my day.)
In thinking about this topic, God reminded me of a great Psalm from which I wish to share some thoughts. Hopefully, these will help YOU in unstable times.
It is Psalm 46 and it talks about 'Present Help and Eternal Hope'.
1) I WILL NOT FEAR (BE UNSTABLE) FOR I HAVE A REFUGE:
Verses 1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and thought the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
II Samuel 22:2-3: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer...He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior from violent men, you save me."
Psalm 46 is the Psalm that was the basis for Martin Luther's song, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".
The first verse:
'A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing,
Our helper He amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also,
The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still.
His Kingdom is forever.'
The Hebrew language has 21 words for 'trouble' in the Old Testament. Much of the Old Testament speaks of the One Who was to come, Who would help in present trouble and give eternal hope!
For example:
Philippians 4:7 speaks of the Fortress around us:
I Corinthians 3:11 speaks of a 'firm Foundation' beneath us
and we will see in vs. 4 following, the Force within us!
Perhaps the most important is Foundation, for I Cor. 3:11 says, "For other foundation can no one lay than that which is laid, Christ Jesus." It continues to say, "We are to build on that foundation, not out of wood, hay or stubble, but gold, silver and precious stone."
So I ask you, is your life on a shaky ladder...or the Solid Rock? (Romans 9:33)
Remember, when fear knocks at your door, let Faith answer the knock and fear will be gone.
This may sound idealistic, but try it.....you will like it.
II. I WILL NOT FAINT (BE UNSTABLE) FOR I HAVE A RIVER:
Verses 4-7: "There is a river, the waters thereof shall make glad the city of God, the Holy Place of the Tabernacles of the most High God. God is in the midst of her...she shall not be moved, God shall help her and that right early."
It is good to have a Foundation under us and a Fortress around us, but also it is very important to have a Force within us. We know that this Force within us, is the Holy Spirit!
John 7:37-39: "In the last day, that Great Day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let that person come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the Scripture has said, out of his innermost being, shall flow rivers of living water." By this, he spoke of the Holy Spirit, which they that believe on him, would receive...for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."
This speaks of joy, so please remember that Joy is the flag that is raised when the King is in residence!
This river is unmatched, in quality and unfailing in quantity! Nature depends on hidden resources...and so must we.
However, Jeremiah 2:13 warns, "My people have committed two sins...they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water and have gone to the old mud holes of this world."
The question is, have you used all of your inner strength? I doubt it, as you can NOT use it all up! You either faith in it....or you faint for lack of it! I remember the words of a chorus: "I've got a river of life flowing out of me".
We may not can hold much, but we can overflow a lot!
But this MUST be in-flow, up-flow and over-flow. This is continuous action for a needy world!
The need here, is for us to 'thirst' for this water's refreshing and to trust it's powers!
Come often, drink deeply, lead others to the water and make them thirsty, by your life, to want it. (You are salt, you know!)
The bush still burns and any old bush will do! (Remember Moses?)
The water still flows and the wind still blows. (John 3:8)
III. I WILL NOT FRET (BE UNSTABLE) FOR I HAVE A REVELATION:
Verse 8-10: The key here is in verse 10: "Be still and know that he is God".
To me, the revelation is the Cross behind us, the Christ within us, the crowd without that needs Him and the Crown before us. The next time that you are tempted to fret, read Psalm 37:1-7 where it speaks of 'fret not', trust, delight, commit, and rest and wait on the Lord. Also, Paul in Romans 6 gives three active verbs for the Christian life:
1) Knowing (vs. 6-10)
2) Reckoning (vs. 11-12)
2) Yielding (vs. 13-14)
IV. I WILL NOT FALTER (BECOME UNSTABLE) FOR I HAVE A REALIZATION:
(vs. 11) "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"
This is telling us that the Commander of the Heavenly Armies is here among us and is present within us. How about that? The God of the Universe is the God of the individual. I hope you realize that God is like a Father and a Shepherd, but He wants to be Lord of all of your life.
In fact, I hope you realize all that you are TO God.....
and all that you have IN God.
(Genesis 1....Psalm 8....Psalm 139: 13-14...Jeremiah1:4-5)
Stop looking at 'self' and start looking at God....
Stop looking at the past and start looking to the future...
Stop reaching for reasons and
Start resting on the revelations (promises).
A preacher once said, "When God tests you, it is good for you to test Him, by putting His promises to the proof and claiming from Him just as much as your trials have rendered necessary."
Notice that the last word in Psalm 46 is 'Selah' which is a Hebrew word used 70 times in the Psalms.
It means to 'pause and reflect' on what has been written.
So appreciate and appropriate all of the Present Help....
and look forward to the Eternal Hope
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