Life or death decisions

Philippians 1:22-23 “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

With each passing year of my sojourn on this side of eternity, it seems as if some passages of scripture seem to strike at my heart more than they once did. This is one of those passages. Because of the goodness, the longsuffering and the love of God, I have been privileged to walk this pathway for 79 years. During those years I have experienced joy, happiness and peace, often without measure. I have also had my share of pain, heartache, burdens and trials. I have known the thrill of victory and I have known the agony of defeat. I want to stay here on this earth a little longer. I have family and friends who are so dear to me and the thought of leaving them makes the heart grow heavy, On the other hand, I stand tonight at a crossroads. Like Paul, I face a dilemma: “life or death”. Paul was ready for either one (Phil. 1:21). I pray that I, too, am  ready for either one. What is true here for me is also true for you.

I have to wonder, how many of us can truthfully say, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain?  How many of us can truthfully say, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal. 2:20)?”  If we are ready to live or die, then Christ must be the very essence of our life. Sitting here with a wondering mind, I just wonder how many of us can truthfully, right now without any doubt can say with the Psalmist, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalms 23)? I wonder how many of us have truly made God our salvation, put our trust in him so we can walk this pathway without doubt or fear (Isa. 12:2)? I wonder, how many of us are truly seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt.6:33) having set our affections on things above (Col. 3:1-2).

I know that in the not too distant future I will go the way of all the earth (Eccl. 12:7, Heb. 9:27).  Until that time, I want to reach forth to that which lies in front of me and press on toward that heavenly home (John 14:1-3, Phil. 3:13-14). How about you, let’s do this together. One day we can come to the end of this earthly journey and say, “I am ready, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). May we so live that one day we will receive that crown. Live for Christ each day and then you can eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Charles Hicks

Proverbs 21:30

"There is no wisdom and no understanding and no counsel against the Lord"
(Proverbs 21:30 NASB). There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
that is greater than the Lord's. Humans in their arrogance often come up
with paths that differ from the Lord's way but they are never better and
will ultimately fail.
Some have gone so far as to actually think they can beat the Lord. They hate
the light because their deeds are evil and so they persecute Christians (cf.
John 3:19-21, 15:18-21). They think perhaps they can end Christianity or at
least get Christians to think and act the way they want, but Jesus built the
church and not even the gates of Hades will prevail against it (Matthew
16:18). They are fighting a loosing battle (cf. John 16:33). They may pull
away those who were not truly dedicated to God, but they will never do away
with the church Jesus built.
We must always recognize the sovereignty of God and humble ourselves before
Him. We must recognize His will and His ways are better than anything man
can devise and seek to follow them.

Jeremy Sprouse