“The way of the buffalo,
Not worth a nickel anymore…”
–Mary Kilroy

“The Lord never intended for His glory to creak along on the back of man’s mechanisms, vehicles, or programs.  He has always ordained for His glory to be transported by sanctified or set apart holy human vessels who reverence and respect His holiness.”
–Tommy Tenney

The buffalo once numbered in the millions on the Great Plains.  Figures have ranged from a low of 18 million to a high of 70 million.  They were the warlord of the Plains.  Yet due to modern technology and man’s greed that number dwindled down to around a 1,000 before there was an effort to save them.  Ahh, ain’t technology and how man uses it wonderful?
The wolves always followed the buffalo herds and with them their lesser cousins, the coyote.  They looked for the weak, the crippled, the young and newborn.  They left alone the old warrior of the plains, waiting for that one day when he would succumb to age and fall.  As long as he was healthy and strong they would not seek him out.
I am reminded of that renown warrior for the Lord–Elijah. He was weary with what he saw around him.  He was the great prophet; one who had fought valiantly for the Lord.  He slew false prophets; he tore down false altars and warned the people when they strayed from God’s holy covenant.  However, when he looked around he saw little hope.  Israel was just like every other country with one major difference; they were God’s chosen, the had been given the covenant promise and the Law.  Elijah was totally frustrated with what he saw.
Where are the Elijahs and Elishas?  Where are those that would protect against the wolves and other predators?  There is an apostasy upon the land and in the church.  Yes, even in the church there are those who call evil good, and good evil.  But what happens when the old are gone and the young have forsaken the real truth of doctrine?  This is a real danger, and it is apparent every day.
One thing to remember is that God will always have a remnant.  There will be those who have listened to the Word of God.  There will be those who will not, nor have not forsaken the ancient paths.  Recall the story of Elijah; the Lord came to him to remind him that there is always a remnant.

“Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. 18 Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
–1 Kings 19:16-18 (NASB)

There may be a falling away, but the Truth will always be there and will prevail.

“Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to false idols that make them stumble in their ways on the ancient roads and walk on new paths, not the highway.”
–Jeremiah 18:15 (HCSB)    

You’ve struck a trail.  It’s rough, but it’ll make a man of you.  It’ll lead somewhere.”
–Zane Grey 

“A man went ahead doing the best he could, but it always seemed there was more trouble lurking just around the bend in the road.”
–Louis L’Amour

It’s been a few years now, in fact, it’s been many years since my Dad took us on a little weekend vacation. I cannot recall the year, but it was somewhere between 1961-63. It was my Dad, Uncle James, Grandpa, my cousins Ted and Mike and myself. He wanted to drive to where they first came when they left Oklahoma for Colorado. Between the Dust Bowl and the coal mines closing Grandpa had to find new work, so he came to Colorado to find a job in the mines. However, there were no jobs available when he arrived so the family moved up in the mountains near Pitkin, CO where Grandpa worked as a lumberjack for a season.
We drove and I remember spending a night in a hotel in Gunnison. The next day we were going to see if the cabin was still standing or not. We went through Waunita Hot Springs and not far from that location there was the cabin. Still standing but with grass and brush grown up all around. Dad ventured in first and the rest of us followed. Six people lived in that small one-room cabin. Dad’s job, since he was too young to work the lumber, was to hunt food; he was 14.
It rained some overnight, but the next day we were going to travel and see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Somehow, and I still can’t figure it with Dad, we got on the road that went on the backside of the Canyon. It was dirt, well, now it was mud. His little Fairlane moved right through it, when suddenly there were three cars stuck in the mud. The men got out and pushed the other cars to get them started and we took off again. Now keep this in mind; there was no railing, just a cliff wall on one side and the drop off into the canyon on the other. The car slid from one side to the other, but we kept going forward. After we were able to get on a paved road again my Dad remarked, “I bet you’re glad I was driving.”
About 4-5 years back my wife and I made a little trip to see if the cabin was still standing. I thought it would be nice to take a picture and have it painted and framed. I decided to go over Cottonwood Pass into Taylor Park and from there over Cumberland Pass and Waunita Pass. I figured my old truck could make it. We moved through the Park and through the ghost town of Tincup up the pass. Just as we began to climb up Cumberland Pass it began to rain. The road was somewhere between a lane and a lane and a half. Water began to flow down the road and into the gullies and now it was muddy. At little higher and sleet became mixed with the rain as we moved up the pass; sliding but making continual progress. When arrived at the summit I simply geared down the truck and we chugged down the other side; the rain and sleet had stopped. I looked at Annie, who had been a mite nervous and said, “I bet you’re glad I was driving.”
Looking back at six decades of life I’ve been on some rough roads. Some were dusty and full of washboards, while others were muddy and I slid from side to side. There were times I broke down on the road, and times that I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. There were even a few times I drove through dust storms where the wind blew so hard I could barely see and the next day my arms were sore from holding the car on the road. Then there were roads packed with ice and roads where the winds howled and the snow blew. Hmmm, it seems like I hear a voice. It’s not my Dad’s and I’m not repeating myself, but I’m sure I heard, “Aren’t you glad I’m driving?” I know it has to be the voice of my heavenly Father. See all of those dangerous roads were physical, many of them were spiritual as well.

“…And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:20 (HCSB)  

Easter is past, and what a wonderful time it was.  It was a special time to remember the sacrifice for our sins and the resurrection power of Jesus.  But because of those days in history there is something vital for each believer, and that is the recognition that He continues to live.  He was dead, but is now alive and with the Father.  I don’t have to worry about tomorrow, or fret about today for He lives.

          “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
           I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
           I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
           And just the time I need Him He’s always near.”
                    –A. H. Ackley

In this world of trouble and woe He is with me.  In this time of terror, fear, and doubt I don’t have to because He is with me each step of the way.  Despair has been removed from my vocabulary; weariness may be there but through Him I find new strength to get through each day.  One day, and I believe it to be soon, He will be calling from the clouds.

          “In all the world around me I see His loving care,
           And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
           I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast,
           The day of His appearing will come at last.”

So rejoice, lift up your heads, King Jesus is soon to appear.  He is our hope, that wonderful “Blessed Hope” upon which we rest.  In the midst of sorrow, He is there.  In the midst of suffering, He is there.  In the midst of the storm, He is there.  Rejoice for He is there through all trials and temptations.

          “Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
           Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
           The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
           None other is so loving, so good and kind.”

Easter is over, Resurrection has happened and now Jesus is with me today.  You may scoff, you may mock and wonder why I could be so foolish.  Ha, I know He lives, and no one can ever take that away from me.  No matter what the world offers.  No matter what happens along the way.  I know!  For He lives within my heart!

                    “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
                     He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
                     He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
                     You ask me how I know He lives?
                     He lives within my heart.”

Much of our religion has become godless and has degenerated into a mere matter of attitudes, opinions, ideas and actions.”   
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“Wanting someone without a commitment to that someone is always one step away from hate.”
–Ravi Zacharias

Some call this day, Resurrection Monday.  That’s an okay term, but then tomorrow is Resurrection Tuesday and so on.  Since that triumphant Sunday, everyday is a resurrection day until He returns.  But here is a question that needs to be answered.  What are you doing about it now?
Jesus said to obey His commandments if we love Him, yet so many try to walk so close to that line.  Do we fail to forget the lesson from Judas?  He was with the Lord most every day for three years and yet He failed to recognize the importance of realizing that keeping His commandments was from the heart.  Try to warn someone of a lifestyle and they will cry, “Legalism.”  Or, “who are you to judge?”  Some even take it to the postmodern extent, “In my opinion, this is not what Jesus meant.”
But, if we are not taking Jesus’ words to heart, can we really believe in a resurrection?  Jesus said as the Father had sent Him so He is sending us.  Maybe I should ask, where is He sending us?  It might just be your workplace.  Then I hear the sound, “Oh, they won’t let me witness there. I’ll get fired.”  Hmmm, what a dilemma.  The voice of the boss versus the voice of the Lord.  However, do not despair, there are many ways to witness.
Perhaps, after your encounter with Christ, you simply decide to go fishing.  That is what several of the disciples did.  They had seen the Lord, talked with Him, but He was gone someplace else to they decided to go fishing.  Let me digress to yesterday, current year.  Does it make a difference what we wear when we are with the Lord?  After all, He just sees the heart, or….  We have come along way from dressing our best when we meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Now, go back to the disciples fishing.  “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, an swam ashore.” (John 21:7, NLT)  For some reason Peter didn’t want to appear before the Lord naked.
I could mention others and wonder about them.  Nicodemus, what was he doing?  Annas and Caiaphas, when they heard of the resurrection, what were their thoughts?  Lazarus, Martha, and the list could go on.  Right now, the important thing is, what are we doing since the Resurrection?

“Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’  ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said.”
–John 21:16 (NLT)