The preacher, John Wesley, once gave this sage advice: “Do all the good you can, while you can, using everything you can.” Have you noticed that things and circumstances are not always ideal? If we wait for just the “right time” to do a deed or live the life of faith, the time never seems to come.
The year that I retired, I had more time and decided to plant a garden. It started out great, but I hadn’t counted on 17 year locusts with their cacophony of sound and thousands of decaying bodies assaulting my olfactory nerves. After their department, the Japanese Beetles descended and ate whatever was left. Then a wild bird, a cormorant, moved into the garden and are the fish and frogs.
Maybe you know where I’m going with this. When I first became a Christian, every day was a joy. My sins were forgiven and I was free. As time went on, though, I found that the Christian life can be difficult, and at times overwhelming and discouraging. Often our plans don’t work out, our hearts get broken, people disappoint us, and sometimes God Himself seems far away. It doesn’t always rain when I want it to, or my favorite plant gets cut down with the weed eater!
I often think of a seminary professor of Steve’s. His name was Dr Klinard. He inspired all of us with his courage and grace. He had survived a devastating heart attack that left his life much altered. He felt every day he lived was a day of grace. He epitomized John Wesley’s words. He gave us something to remember as we suffer the vicissitudes of life. I want to be that way taking God’s promise’s seriously. “He always causes us to triumph” (I Corinthians 15:57).
Of course there are more serious problems than locusts, beetles, and cormorants. But the principal is the same. It’s in the small things that often life consists. We survive our disappointments and triumph because we have a great God who loves us. His blessing and love are not just for a favored few. We can use everything we have and are for His glory! The simplest life can honor God.
Thoughts From the Garden 