Nothing is quite so beautiful as when you share it with someone else.  There is no purpose in working unless one works for someone, for something.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Westward the Tide)

    “Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.”
              –Revelation 22:17(HCSB)
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Monday again, ah, but this Monday and the next, we are going to a wedding.  Psalm 45 is a wedding psalm which some believe was when Solomon was marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.  There is much pomp and ceremony at a royal wedding and this psalm lavishes much praise upon the groom.

    1 – My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
    2 – You are the most handsome of men; grace flows from your lips.  Therefore God has blessed you forever.
    3 – Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side. In your majesty and splendor—
    4 – in your splendor ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility, and justice.  May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.
    5 – Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.
    6 – Your throne, God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
    7 – You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
    8 – Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments; from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.
    9 – Kings’ daughters are among your honored women; the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir, stands at your right hand.  (HCSB)

    Take a moment and look at the qualities of the groom:  (George O. Wood)
         1)  He has character which invites praise.  (vs 2)  
                  –“It is the man’s responsibility to conduct himself in such a way that his wife can honestly praise him.”
         2)  He has handsome bearing. (vs 3)
                  –A person of bearing always looks sharp, and conducts himself appropriately.
         3)  He has noble ideals.  (vs 4)
                  –“His purpose in marriage goes beyond self-pleasure–he sees his life mission in larger terms and his marriage as part of God’s plan for the fulfillment of divine aims.”
         4)  He has inner strength.  (vs 5)
                  –“He will be the victor and not victim….  He has wholesome self-confidence in addition to his faith in the Lord.”
         5)  He is in submission to God.  (vs 6-7)
                  –“The earthly husband aligns his character to the Lord’s, possessing a love for righteousness, a hatred of wickedness, and a life of joy.”
         6)  He has love for beauty.  (vs 8-9)
                  –“Here is a man who smells good, possesses a keen sense of aesthetics, and loves music.”

    Note the change in verse 6 to one of prophetic tone.  This handsome ruler with military bearing seems to be symbolic also of the heavenly Groom.  Sometimes we should think of Christ as the “Groom” and remember that the Church is His “Bride.”  Think of the feelings He must have.  Think of the jealousy and anger that may reside in Him for the way His Bride is currently being treated.  Think about how He longs for her, and wants her to be with Him.

         “I shall see the King in His beauty in the land that is far away,
          When the shadows at length have lifted, and the darkness has turned into day.
          And to none will the King be a stranger of the throngs who surround His seat.
          For the hearts of the saved will know Him by the prints of the nails in His feet.”
                  –A. B. Simpson

Don’t let your dark places control your life.”
              –Troy G. Wagstaff  (.44 Caliber Preacher)

    “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
              –2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)
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Yesterday, August 6, 1945, was a day that forever changed the course of world history.  It was the day that the Enola Gay flew over Hiroshima and dropped the first nuclear bomb.  Many today said that it was cruel and heartless, but it broke the back of the Japanese empire.  It took another one, a few days later to finally bring it to their knees.
    Some say it was cruel and inhumane,  Those do not know their history.  Sure, we could have starved them into submission.  Put a blockade around the country.  Japan was already starving so when the Americans came, they brought food.  Japan was also in the midst of a massive cholera epidemic.  That was quickly stopped with the occupation by American troops.  Plus there was the fact that thousands upon thousands would have been killed when an invasion took place which was scheduled for spring 1946, both American and Japanese.  My Dad’s Division was to be in the invading force.  He had fought in New Guinea and the Philippines, and was part of the invasion of Palawan.
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Is this a true pandemic?  I have problems with the term.  Sure, several have been affected, but the death rate is very low.  Pandemic, epidemic proportions, not sure?  Think of the Black Death.  It swept through Europe several times killing one-third to one-half the population.  The influenza of 1917-1920 killed probably over forty million.
    Not to get in an argument over the term, but I want to remind you of Who is in control.  “When trials or disasters come upon us in life, we many times recoil at the dilemma because we can’t see down the road of life to know what God is preparing us for.” (Gregg Turnbull)  We get so caught up in the dilemma, or the “pandemic” that we cannot see the hand of God and what He is trying to do in our lives.  “Christian, when something that you would consider bad happens to you, do not hit the panic button.  If God allowed it, don’t be shortsighted.  Not only is God watching your response, but others are also.  Have confidence in God.” (Gregg Turnbull)
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           “Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.”
                      –Proverbs 2:5-7 (NKJV)

Let me ask this one very important question?  Is God your Father?  When you talk with Him, if you do, are you frazzled and seeking things from other sources, or do you calmly go to Him?  I like the words of F.B. Meyer, “It is a mistake to see a sign from heaven; to run from counselor to counselor; to cast a lot; or to trust to some chance coincidence.  Not that God may not reveal his will thus; but because it is hardly the behavior of a child with its Father.  There is a more excellent way.  Let the heart be quieted and still in the presence of God…  Let the voice of the Son of God hush into perfect rest the storms that sweep the lake of the inner life, and ruffle its calm surface…  Remembering that all who lack wisdom are to ask it of God…let us quietly appropriate him, in that capacity, by faith; and then go forward, perhaps not conscious of any increase of wisdom…but sure that we shall be guided as each new step must be taken, or word spoken, or decision made.”

           “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
                       –Matthew 7:11(NKJV)
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I will finish today with a portion from a sermon by Phillips Brooks.  In this he deals with some very important questions that all should answer and at the end of life all will answer before Him at the judgment.  Have you ever thought about your purpose here on earth?  What were you placed here for?

         “What makes every one of us sigh when we think what we might have been?  Why is every one of us missing his highest?  What are we all shut out from our trees of life?  There is one word, one universal word, that tells the sad story for us all.  It is selfishness–selfishness from the beginning.  If we had not been selfish, if we had lived for God from the beginning, if we had been consecrated, we know it would have been different;…we would have come to what He made us for–our fullest and our best life.”

    A person may think that they are a success, that they have it all, but then that day comes when they stand before the Lord and they have nothing to show.  They look around as if to say, “I have done this”, but find that there is nothing there.  He then looks at the Lord who is silently shaking His head.
    Now is the time to seek Him.  Now is the time to consecrate and be willing to give all and do service for the Lord.

As a rule, I’m a happy person, but that happiness doesn’t always get to my face.”
              –Lou Bradshaw  (Cain)

    “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”
              –Jude 24 (NLT)
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Look at the news…  No!  Don’t!  Don’t do anything where the devil can try to steal your joy.  We live in a time of hatred, bitterness, despondency, and despair.  There are voices everywhere and they try to confuse you.  If you are downcast, why?  Aren’t you saved?  Aren’t you on your way to heaven?  Don’t let the things of this earth spoil your joy.  In fact, it should not be characteristic of a Christian to not be joyful.  Remember, joy is from the heart; it is not happiness.

         “I have found His grace is all complete,
          He supplieth eve’ry need;
          While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
          I am free, yes, free indeed.”
                –B.E. Warren

Let the joy of Christ dwell in you.  Perhaps you should ask what it is that gives you joy.  Sometimes happiness can bring joy, but happiness is fleeting while joy should be permanent.  Joy is why the Christians of old could go to their death in the Roman arenas singing–they had joy in their hearts.  The problem is that we let the world dictate to us what should bring us joy.  Are you happy about having to wear a mask?  Probably not, but that should not steal your joy.

         “I have found the pleasure I once craved,
          It is joy and peace within;
          What a wondrous blessing!  I am saved
          From the awful gulf of sin.”

Are you saved?  Be joyful!  Are you living in grace?  Be joyful!  Can you feel the presence of the Lord?  Be joyous!  Rejoice, and again I say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)  Just think, the Lord is coming soon, be joyful and if He should tarry, be joyful still.  Do you have fellowship with God; have you been reconciled to Him?  If so, keep the joy in your heart.  Ponder the words of Romans 5:2, “Through whom [Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  

         “I have found that hope so bright and clear,
          Living in the realm of grace;
          Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
          I can see His smiling face.”

I used some of this hymn in yesterday’s “Echo.”  In thinking of it, joy should “echo” throughout our lives as we walk along the journey to glory.  Christ is with us, that should make us pick up our feet and not drag them along the way, mumbling, “woe is me…blah, blah, blah.”  Come on, if Christ could look at the joy and thus face the torment of the cross because of what laid behind it, then we can do the same in this life for we are heading for a city and a mansion that is in the realm of glory.  Get that joy in your heart.

         “I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
          How its waves of glory roll!
          It is like a great o’er-flowing well,
          Springing up within my soul.

                            It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
                            Full of glory, full of glory;
                            It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
                            Oh, the half has never yet been told.”