“My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:2)
“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1st Kings 19:10)
David’s desire to be in the presence of the Almighty revealed that death was more important, more desirable than the continuation of his life here for him. Elijah was so frustrated with the people he was sent to that leaving this life was more desirable to him than continuing in that frustration. Paul said that if he could be cast aside so that all Israel could be saved, he would do it.
When the frustrations reach a certain point, when the tribulations, the suffering, the pain comes to a crescendo, death is the preferred alternative.
Try explaining that to most of the people you meet that profess to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and you will receive blank stares, nervous laughter and even firm rebukes. And then ask them what their reply is to Philippians 1:21.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
“Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.” (Exo. 32:10)
The Living God does not look upon death as we do, centuries of growing the seed of Abraham to what some believe could have been more than a million people, and He was more than willing to kill them all and start over with Moses.
Our infirmities, our serious aches and pain, both of the flesh and of the mind, our frustrations, even the amount of how much we hate this wicked world and its continuous, non-stop wicked ways are understood by the Lord, but are of no real concern to Him in comparison to our submission to His will, of our obedience to Him.
Recall how He left Lazarus at the rich man’s gate to suffer, read of the end of the lives, of the tribulations and sufferings of those in Hebrews eleven, of those this world was not worthy of. How He allowed a man to be born blind and remain that way for decades so that His glory could be revealed by His Son, our Savior. A woman who spent her entire life’s savings, one who was allowed to have only two mites left, teaching Jacob submission by causing him to limp for the rest of his life.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
How many of us pray for death, and death is denied us? How many pray for release from the bondage of this flesh, of this evil world, and He says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Again, I offer you His consolation, His words of encouragement, His truths.
“In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)
But our patience wears thin at times, does it not? So tired of it all, so tired of fighting the battle, of the pain, of all that this world hurls at us, just wanting it to end and finally go home.
Many times I have written and said these following words. “How can you compare a few decades of life to eternity?” But in those moments they mean nothing, as the clock continues to tick, as the hours turn into days, then weeks and months, and death is denied us, we who have been born again understand that our Father in heaven is not yet done with us, there is still work to be done, tasks to be completed for His glory.
If you cannot see that truth, then you do not yet understand the truths written here today for you.
When we finally enter into His rest, nothing written here will hold any value, except for this, in our patience we possessed our souls, because we trusted in His will for our lives here.
Hold on, no matter what, hold on, trust Him.
