Look Up

“And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.”

(Horatio Spafford, 1873, “It is Well With My Soul.”)

From my quiet spot, where I like to sit early in the morning and watch the sun come up, I can see a huge, thirty foot limb on the ground across the street, that broke off of a large tree during the violent thunderstorm which blasted through here yesterday.

It's been a weird year. 

Months of unemployment, financial and relational struggles, health issues, sleepless nights, and many trials and personal tribulations. 

In the nation and in the world troubles are escalating. Unrest and killing in the middle east continues to spiral out of control. The global economy is on very shaky ground. We are on the precipice of getting sucked into a war with Russia because of the conflict in Syria. It's a lose/lose situation. None of our statesmen or so-called 'experts' have any real solutions.

Devastating wildfires are burning up huge chunks of the west, while floods ravage much of the east. Some of my favorite places to camp and fish nearer to home have been burned up from the fires. The drought has resulted in my favorite "tailwater" river being virtually shut off, to save what little water remains for next year's irrigation needs. I know of people who are virtually 'devastated' because their favorite football team lost its season opener.

Signs of the times we're living in.

It's been a hard, but interesting life lesson to learn: seeking solace, peace, or fulfillment in temporal, worldly things is a dead-end proposition. 

Horatio Spafford, who in 1873, wrote the lyrics to the famous hymn, "It is Well With My Soul" knew about trials and tragic loss. 

“This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the 1871 Great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago which was decimated by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873 at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone…" Shortly afterward, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write the words to his hymn as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.” (Source; Wikipedia)

This verse offers great hope:

“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

Blessed assurance.

In my helpless state, I desperately need Christ's blessed assurance. In the crushing trials and storms of this life, I need to look unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of my faith. (See Hebrews 12:2)

So often, we hold tightly onto things in life that can be burned up by fire, or swept away by flood.

It's no wonder peace of soul is elusive to so many.

This morning, I, again, had to choose to take my eyes and my focus off of broken tree limbs and storms. Off of financial woes and worries. Off of government foolishness and folly that I cannot directly control. Away from my worldly and worthless pursuits, designed only to satisfy 'self.'

Look up.

If you worry, fret over, and focus on the storms of this life, all you will do is sink. But if you turn your heart and your focus upon Jesus—The Savior in The Storm—you will know Peace. Just ask the Apostle Peter:

“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)

The world is in a slow downward spiral that is quickly picking up speed. It's only a matter of time until this twisted world system sinks, once and for all.

Once I have left this earth and am with Jesus, all of my property and possessions are merely firewood.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12)

It's all going to burn.

So, in your heart, let it go. Release your 'death grip' on the things that, ultimately, you cannot keep. 

Jesus said:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

The abundant life that I seek does not consist of 'things.' True, abundant life is found only in Christ. Hope, peace, joy; are in Him alone. Security is found only in Jesus. Job, money, houses, possessions, hobbies will never bring true peace, security, or fulfillment. You can lose these things without warning, in an instant.

Jim Elliot, the missionary to Ecuador, who was killed in 1956 by the natives he gave up everything to reach for Christ said:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Jesus is coming soon. He said, 

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:37-44)

"Oh, Lord—haste the Day!"

Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off the Lord Jesus and instead focused on the raging storm.

Look up!

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.