If a body takes out to follow a made trail down over the hills, he’d best hold to that trail… Most of the trouble a man finds in the mountains is when he tries shortcuts or leaves a known way.”
–Louis L’Amour (Treasure Mountain)
“Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.
–Deuteronomy 11:22(NLT)
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Psalm 102 started with gloom and despair then moved into the faithfulness and patience, and greatness of the Lord. To finish we see a challenge. We, whatever generation you find yourself in, are to leave a record for future generations. Believers are to leave a godly heritage and legacy to those coming up. They are to fill the gap and it is the responsibility of the older generations to teach, guide, and provide the means for them to do so.
18 — This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19 — For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth.
20 — To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death.
21 — To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem.
22 — When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 — He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.
24 — I said, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations.
25 — Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 — They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed.
27 — But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.
28 — The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.” (NKJV)
What does your biography say? Was it a broken road, a road full of failure? Or was it a road of battle and victories; overcoming adversity? Most likely it was a mixture, but the important thing is that God kept you. That is your testimony. God looks down from heaven to view you upon your journey, in fact, we have the Holy Spirit (Paraclete) with us along the way to guide us, to help us, to comfort us, to chastise us and give us direction.
The people were looking forward to the end of captivity in Babylon. Then a new people came along, the Persians. They must have wondered where God was in all of this. Yes, He said He would discipline the nation, but now has he forgotten His people? Here the Psalmist says with a resounding cry, No, God is looking down at His people. I imagine the people had their problems in the midst of being held captive. Look for example at Daniel, after leaving Babylon, he went to Persia where he would one day enter the lions’ den.
The Psalmist reminds us that God does not change. In the midst of life’s journey–God is there and He does not change. Through life’s journey, we may have pain, sorrow, and heartache–God is there and He does not change. Along the road there may be vicious attacks and the lions’ den may be our destiny, or a fiery furnace–God is there and He does not change. “God will forever remain the same, immutable in his divine person and unchangeable in his eternal purpose. Because the Lord does not change, his future work through his people will be established.” (Steven J. Lawson0
If you see the church caving into the world it is your duty, your obligation to remain strong and stable. This is your legacy to those that follow. If it seems as if the nations rage against God it is your responsibility to be a light and salt to those around you. Live in hope; live in faith. Tell the stories of God’s faithfulness from Scripture; tell the stories of His faithfulness in your life. No matter what, remain faithful and this will be recorded for future generations.
“In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar around me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?”
–Anna L. Waring