The Downs and Ups of a Child of God

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” The worldling has his or her ups and downs, while God’s elect have their downs and ups. That is, God’s people ultimately bounce back. You know, “You can’t keep a good man down.”

David had his down moments, and he knew God knew of them. God understanding his thoughts, I’m sure, was aware David, like ourselves, wished it were not so. In an old time camp meeting, David would have given a hearty AMEN! to the quartet singing the old spiritual, “Sometimes I’m Up, Sometimes I’m Down, O, Yes, Lord!”    

Is this not why we all love the book of Psalms so dearly? The Psalmist did not go from mountaintop to mountaintop without having his valley experiences. And this was so he might appreciate and enjoy breathing that celestial air once he climbed back up.

In the Christian life, the rule is we’re to be up, the exception being when we’re down; Whenever reversed, there is dire reason for concern. I heard a preacher say once, “I’m never down. I won’t allow myself to be down.” I knew immediately I was listening to a spiritual sham or a self-deceived braggart.

   

Yielding To Temptation

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Being tempted is not sin; giving in to it is. Therefore, it is imperative there be no flag of surrender.

I have found a great number of those who have yielded fell for the lie the devil told them, “Your temptation is greater than others, God will understand if you submit.” And so they pride themselves that their particular enticement was different from anyone else’s, among God’s people. True, it may not have been the same in kind, but it can be the same in intensity. Sorry Mr. or Mrs. Narcissus, you’re not the only one, it’s common to all.

How some love to broadcast their great temptation in front of groups, councillors, and those close to them. Interestingly, Jesus never mentioned to anyone His temptation on the Mount, nor that in the Garden. God only knows those precious souls who fought it through behind closed doors, and came out victorious. There is always a way out, As my pastor says, “When tempted, look for the escape hatch.”

It would be well for each of us who have “pity parties” when severely tempted, to remind ourselves to, “Consider HIM that endured...lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”  

“A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later.” C. S. Lewis.

God Vindicates His Own

“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Texts such as this can be found throughout the New Testament, especially the Gospels. Not only do they prove the inspiration of the Bible, but the vindication of the prophets.

Whenever the words of God’s man or woman, speaking on behalf of the Lord, came to pass,they were vindicated. No matter how long it took. Sometimes hundreds of years had to elapse before what they said was realized as credible and authentic.

And so it will be with many of us. In spite of the fact that a great number are belittled and maligned for what they say today, down the road, possibly in the far off future, God will vindicate their testimony. You see, the grave is not silent, for “He being dead yet speaketh.”

As Night Follows Day

“The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” The old adage, “As night follows day,” simply means you can depend on it. That is, you can count on it, expect it, yes! Look for it with assurance. One will follow upon the heels of the other; it will always be close by.

And so it is with corruption,whenever you find it, you can be certain violence will soon come on the scene. Whether it be an individual, city, state, nation, or the entire earth, when corruption enters, violence will be the result.

Today, as in that of Noah (history repeats itself), corruption is universal. Extreme violence has already begun happening in many parts of the world. And don’t be deceived, we are not exempt. You can hang your hat on the fact that intense violence, such as we have never seen in our beloved nation, is at the door.

No sane, sensible person, would deny our entire country is steeped in corruption. From politics to religion, every facet of society has been severely tainted. The only answer is a Revival or His Return. Personally, I pray for the second. But if the second is on hold, then I'm for the first.

Until one of these two happens, as Noah of old, we can walk victoriously with our God in the midst of all the filth.