One thing health and wealth preachers don’t have going for them — the empirical evidence for smooth sailing in rich waters is sorely lacking. Even those charlatans who “name it and claim it” fail miserably in the end. As James tells them in his letter (and I’m paraphrasing here) — “if you’re gonna pretend to be a teacher, you’d better have your ducks in a row.”
Judgement will come, and it’s going to hit those who lead God’s children astray especially hard. Their lack of fear tells me they have no idea of the road ahead. As lavish as they live now, it won’t end well.
But it’s not always a picnic for the true believer either. David clues us into this quite often in his psalms. He had his share of enemies and hardship, but one thing comes out clear in those songs — he could wait on the Lord for his salvation.
We Christians should all be so confident in our future rest, even if life is throwing its challenges at us.
Shane and Shane’s rendition of the 13th Psalm got me thinking along these ways today. I love the song, and I love how they’ve captured the words of David. It’s so helpful to know that even as we wrestle with life, there is a purpose for the Christian, and of course, the hope of which I’ve so often written. Paul’s words to us in his letter to the Romans helps: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Tom Schrader liked to emphasize those first words — “And we know!”
Of this the Christian can be assured — that no matter what happens to us here in this life, we can know that God is working for our good. We wait on him, and we may have to wait a long time. Still, “I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me!”
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.