When minds are allowed to wander unhindered, accusations and recriminations often fill the void with guilt and despair. When thoughts were directed by the Scripture, God washes our minds clean and fills it with His comfort and guidance.”
–B.N. Rundell (Naches Trail)
“Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.”
–Romans 8:28(Phillips)
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One thing age does for you is that you get a better perspective of the past. When something happened when you were younger you might think, why in the world did the Lord allow that to happen? Now, looking back you can see the hand of God at work in the situation. Joseph is a good example. Why did the Lord allow him to be cast into the pit, then sold into slavery, then the dungeon of Egypt? Wasn’t his dream from God? But then the day came when he told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, NASB)
The Holocaust, as evil as it was, brought about the nation of Israel. Israel, so important to God for we read in Zechariah, “For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.” (2:8, ESV). What we see happening since 1948 is the fulfillment of prophecy. People wonder and some fear, about what is happening with Iran. Israel will be protected. Is it the end time prophecy? Yes (and no)–for all things that happen are part of the end times, and Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars.
Have you ever wandered off a trail while hiking? I was hunting once in the mountains south of Eagle, Colorado. It was rugged terrain, with downfalls everywhere. It was hard to follow a game trail because of that. It was cold, so cold as to make it miserable. One ol’ boy we met in the woods was from Texas. He remarked, “if yuh was to shoot an elk you’d have to bring a skillet an’ eat him there.” That’s how rugged the terrain was. My hunting buddy was hunting below a wooded area and on the way back he got off the path that would lead him back to camp. He arrived just at dusk and it was easy to see that he was frightened. He wandered for an hour or so in the woods.
The following by Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps us to see the hand of God. “I believe that God can and will bring good out of evil, even out of the greatest evil. For that purpose He needs men who make the best use of everything. I believe that God will give us all the strength we need to help us resist in all time of distress. But He never gives it in advance, lest we should rely on ourselves and not on Him alone. A faith such as this should allay all our fears for the future. I believe that even our mistakes and shortcomings are turned to good account, and that it is no harder for God to deal with them that with our supposedly good deeds. I believe that God is no timeless fate, but that He waits for and answers sincere prayers and responsible actions.”
So don’t be worrying so much about your past. Put it under the blood of Jesus, and perhaps, when you reach the “old codger” age you can see how God used your blunders to do things in your life. If nothing else we can use our reckless stupidity and say, “chalk it up to experience.” The Psalmist wrote, and maybe you can relate, “I used to wander off until you punished me; now I closely follow all you say. You are good and do only good; make me follow your lead.” (119:67-68, TLB). Allow God to use your life, stay close to His guiding hand and His Word, but if you find yourself wandering, get back quickly.