IN C H R I S T I S L I F E
is for resolution S ’ three ways o f life
A fortnight or two after the beginning of each new year a great many of us find, with bitter finality, that the shining resolutions we made already are shattered. And so it is with all of life. We plan and we resolve and we build and we dream. And then life falls apart. And when there are too many pieces that no longer seem to fit we can face the situation in one of three ways: resentment, resignation or rejoicing. You ’ve often noted this in the lives of your friends. An almost identical situation engulfs two people. The one crumbles; the other comes through stronger than ever. It would seem then that the basic problem is not what happens to us but how we handle circumstances. The man who has never been properly related to God through a saving faith in Jesus Christ has absolutely nothing but himself in times of stress. And when self is backed into a corner life can be intolerably bleak. We retreat into resentment. We lash out at life. We blame our friends, our loca tion, our job, our luck. Or we can retreat into resignation. We play the role of the stoic. We pretend everything is all right. We bottle up our slashed feelings; we let no one view our shattered dreams. But the pieces of life are still crumpled and scattered. Then there is the third way of facing life. It is the way of rejoicing. I don’t mean the rejoicing of the sickeningly, honey-sweet suc
cess cults of our day. Things are not all right because we think they are. Our problems will not vanish simply because we repeat positive thoughts with the regularity of the sweeping arms of a windmill. The rejoicing I mean is a rejoicing in the solid, unbreakable promises of God. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I w ill give you rest. T he eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And the peace o f God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Are not two sparrows sold for a far thing? and one o f them shall not fa ll on the ground without your Bather. Fear ye not therefore, ye are o f more value than many sparrows. Yes, you are of more value than many spar rows. This is God’s view of you and your need. His provision is yours for the accepting. The Bible says, But as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons o f God, even to them that believe on his name. Here is His formula for becoming His child. God being God, we must come to Him on His terms. And when we do, His provision becomes ours. Before us opens a clear-cut path. It is a walk of triumph and rejoicing. And it is a walk most of us want. — L. H.
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