"Never Give Up"
"Now the temple was finished . . . in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius." (Ezra 6:15)
Most of the time the things we desire from God we never see because we become weary or depressed and lose faith. We wear ourselves out by not continuing to trust in God. We give up and think God is not going to answer us. Did you know the answer we're looking for is inside of us?
When they were rebuilding the temple, Zerubbabel and his men ran into many obstacles that caused discouragements and disappointments. They could have easily given up but they knew the work they were doing was given to them from God. Not many people are willing to persevere until they get what they want. This poem illustrates the reward of perseverance:
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl;
The one was wise, and a cheery soul;
The other one took a gloomy view,
And bade his friend a sad adieu.
Said the other frog with a merry grin,
"I can't get out, but I won't give in;
I'll swim around till my strength is spent,
Then I'll die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed,
His struggling began to churn the cream,
Until on top of pure butter he stopped,
And out of the bowl he quickly hopped.
The moral, you ask? Oh, it's easily found.
If you can't get out, keep swimming around!
-----R.W.D
Whatever life puts in your way, keep persevering and never give up. Success is around the corner and your hopes and dreams are waiting for you if you will only "keep swimming."
This is the premise of every pursuit...happiness.
As children, we all dream about the images of happiness fed to us by the media, and the entertainment industry. Most promises seemed to involve a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We were taught that following the dream or rather that pathway was the route to the ultimate source of happiness--wealth and riches. Thus, we were all led to associate the pot of gold with happiness.
Unfortunately, many have traveled that pathway, and found their pot of gold, yet are still left empty inside. So, a generation, like so many others, are left to their devices, their creations, the works of their hands and nothing more. The questions of concern remains unanswered for this generation. Why am I divorced again? Why did my children turn out this way? Why do I feel alone--even in a crowd? Why, with so many accomplishments under my belt, do I still feel unfulfilled?
I have discovered after 27 years of marriage, after residing in the North, South, East, West of the United States, that the questions are basically the same, even with people of faith. Why? Why? Why? Where is the happiness, the joy, the peace and even the love, which eludes me. We then ask ourselves: "Where did I go wrong?" In order to experience true happiness, one must renounce the earthly nature of their soul.
...A baby not only learns by example, but acts on instincts, as well. These instincts leads a baby to do whatever feels good at that moment without understanding the consequences. We teach our babies not to touch a hot flame or a stovetop; while the leaping flames are beautiful and enticing to the eye. The child's curious nature is what may lead to serious, possibly, lethal injury. The child has to literally go against its very nature in order to avoid the burning pain of the flames.
Adults also have to go against their natures in order to avoid the feel good temptation. The consequences of giving in to temptations will be pain and disappointment in our lives. Many paths, even ones that appear good, can lead to emptiness and despair.
In the Bible, Sarah chose her handmaiden for Abraham, to produce a heir. It was obviously the wrong path, which created a child outside of the scope of God's promises of blessings. This child, Ishmael, and his mother were separated from Abraham because Ishmael was not the child of the promise. Sarah, in God's time gave birth to Isaac, the promise child. Let's view Ishmael as a representation of the works of the flesh, and Isaac as the representation of the works of the Spirit. Ishmael cannot exist in unity with Isaac. Ishmael is the child produced by the works of the flesh. While Isaac is the child promised by the Spirit, and was produced miraculously by the power of the Spirit working through and inside Abraham and Sarah.
Isaac was not a product of Abraham and Sarah's understanding. As a matter of fact, his birth defied all human reasoning, their age being the determining factor. They were very old, unable to bare children. Are there some things too great for you to accomplish, yet, you may have been told, or prophesied, things you will accomplish?
The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, lean not to our own understanding. Our understanding comes to us by way of our culture, what we have been molded and shaped by. Mostly things that would bring us pleasure. We honestly do not know what our future holds for us. We wander on a pathway of uncertainty.
It is no wonder that the Bible gives us instructions to acknowledge the Lord, put Him first in all we do, then He will direct our paths. We are instructed to acknowledge Him in all we say and do, and as we walk in obedience to these instructions, our pathway will inevitably lead to the place of fulfillment, of happiness, the joy of the Lord, and His peace which passes all human understanding. The ingredients for this successful recipe is:
Acknowledge the Lord in all that you say and do, and with all your heart, and He will certainly direct your paths in this life, as well as, in the life to come.
