If man has ever lived in time when he needs help and healing, that time is now. We are assailed on every hand. Insoluble problems plague nations and individuals. National debts multiply at speeds approaching the speed of light. No politician or potentate presents a trustworthy proposal to place international budgets back into balance. The fabric of the very souls of nations is being torn to shreds by economic, social and political upheaval. Child molestation and sexual perversion threaten to destroy a whole generation. The traditional Christian family seems to stand on the very verge of extinction. Add to all this the very real and present danger of militant, violent and savage Islamic terror that threatens to subjugate the whole world under brutal sharia law and establish a dictatorial Islamic Caliphate.
Where is the politician or leader who can truly call men and nations that were once called Christian to repentance and back to their Christian heritage? Where is the philosophy or the philosopher that can bring help and healing? Did David speak for us when he poured out his heart to God and said, "Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had the wings of a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest."
Is there any hope, help or healing for our contemporary frustration and despair? Were our antecedents in the faith merely engaging in meaningless superlatives when they spoke of the great God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Just how great is He? Was John exaggerating later when he concluded that, "...greater is He that is inure than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4) Was Paul deluded when he said, "I ,can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."? (Phil!. 4:13) Is there help today for all our troubles, trials and tribulations? It would seem so.
Surely those wonderful words He spoke to His disciples when He said, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest," are meant for our day and time as well.
Someone has likened the tender, loving compassion and care of God for His children' to the ancient king sitting on his throne, surrounded by his council of wise and important men, deliberating on high affairs of state involving the destiny of nations. Suddenly he hears the sorrowful cry of his little child who has fallen down and been hurt. He rises and runs to his relief, soothes his pain and relieves his fears. Is this out of character with his high and kingly estate? Not in the least. His action does not deny His sovereignty, but demonstrates it.
Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords numbers the hairs on the head of his little children. He engraves their name in His hand. He cares, oh yes, He cares. His heart is touched with our grief! The loving compassion expressed in His rescuing us from the fearful doom and destruction of sin, confirms His greatness.
Once an ordinary boatman was rowing a college professor across a stream. When they were in midstream the professor said to the common man, "Do you know anything about philosophy?" "No," the boatman replied. "Well," the professor replied "You've lost out on a large portion of your life." Just then the boat capsized and boatman cried out to the professor, "Can you swim?" The professor gasped, "No!" The boatman yelled back, "Then you've lost your life!"
The professor had been so concerned with the academic and the theoretical, he was not practically prepared to survive in a real life crisis. It's all a matter of what is the most important in life.
Jesus said He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. If we are going to function and cope with life to the best degree, we must know the life giver and the life sustainer. He stands ready to impart to us not only the spiritual survival skills necessary, but will provide is with the wisdom and power to apply them to our everyday existence. Hope, peace and happiness head the list of the spiritual help He wishes to provide for His children as they wend their through this world. Yes, our Lord knows the way through the wilderness of this world and all we have to do is follow! - Pastor John G. White
