Today’s lesson is on the circle of life.
No, I’m not talking about the awesome song from Disney’s “Lion King”, but rather the ages and stages we all go through and the pain and joy associated with them. Today at worship, we experienced so many of these. The beginning of faith in two young children through baptism, the giving of initial scripture and beginning the practice of worship in our preschool milestone, the public statements of faith for two eight graders nearing confirmation, the mourning for the loss of two souls never to be born but loved forever, and the power of the Lord through his supper. This whirlwind was amazing, wonderful, hard, draining, and a reminder that through all of these stages, through joy and grief, through excitement and depression, God is with us. This is what being human and being one of God’s children is all about.
“What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.” – Ecclesiastes 1:3-5
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3: 1 -8
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
I know that’s a lot of scripture for a concept of the circle of life. These passages show that by God’s design there is a season for everything. You will be rewarded for your toil. You will pass from this earth but not the next one. You will have wonderful days and terrible days. As a friend of mine once told me “Nothing too good or too bad lasts too long”. When I first heard this, I hated it. I don’t like that the good will end, but when I thought more about it, the bad will end too. That gave and continues to give me hope. I also know that the Lord is with me and I am not afraid or discourages. The eternal good will last forever in his house when my days on this earth of over. I will join all of those believers in him at the end of days.
We started with Disney, so we should end with Disney. Hakuna Matata – it means no worries for the rest of your days. I have no worries with the Lord by my side. This is not easy. This is one of the hardest things in life, but it is a core tenant in believing in Jesus.
Are you willing to turn it over to God? Are you willing to recognize that there is a season? Are you willing to remember that no matter how good or how terrible the days may be, Jesus is forever on your side?
I am willing (with the help of God)
#70of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney
You must log in to post a comment.