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Msg #593 Wednesday
January 27, 2010
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My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Our bodies are falling apart. Our health is failing. This is true not just for some who read this today…but for each and every one of us. We are all on a path of life where sickens and weakness is increasing.
“…our outward man (our body) is perishing…” (2 Cor 4:16)
I wonder if this reality is before you this week. For many, you or the ones that you love are struggling with weakness, sickness and pain. How do we handle this? Not to be overly simplistic, but can I give you a couple thoughts that might be of encouragement.
Sickness is sin’s fault.
… sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men… (Romans 5:12)
Death and the process of dying including sickness and pain…came because of sin. You need to know this. It was not how God originally created things…nor is it how heaven will be. In this sense, don’t blame God for your pain or suffering – but see it for what it is – a part of this sin cursed world. It is a part of the reason Jesus came and died, to save us from sin…and all of its consequences.
Sickness should make us long for heaven.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
Heaven will be without pain and without suffering. One of the blessings of pain in this world is that it can wake us up to this reality. Perhaps it is even one of the reasons God allows that as we grow older, we struggle more with pain – so we will become more and more hungry for heaven. It is an interesting thought. Yet, I warn you – it does not happen for all. For some in their pain, they become almost entirely focused on the now, the temporal and lose sight of the greater wonder of eternity. I call you today to “look at the things… that are not seen” Allow pain to help you to look up for what is coming…. Each weakness should be like another click of Dorothy’s heels saying, “There is no place like home”.
Sickness should give us compassion on others.
God… comforts us … that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
One of the reasons that Jesus became a man, is that He could be a merciful Savior, understanding what we face in this life. (Heb 2:17) Similarly, sickness and pain should open our eyes to others with pain…and make us more compassionate
Sickness should make us lean on God more
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Consider how this truth came home to the Apostle Paul:
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8–10)
Our weakness can and should compel us to lean and trust on God more. Our weakness should make us less dependent on our own ability and more dependent on His. O that we would do this…looking to Him more and more.
Today – as it says in Ps 73 – May God be the strength of your heart!
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Jim
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