Great Is Thy Faithfulness

     One of my favorite hymns is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".  The words speak to the character of God which is unchanging, and in our ever changing day to day life, this is so reassuring.  To know that we have a God who will never leave us nor forsake us has been the hope of many during times of suffering and loss.  Certainly, this was the situation for the writer of this hymn.
     Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky in 1866.  He had a difficult adult life due to fragile health.  He was often unable to work as he was confined to bed from time to time; thus he had to push himself to work extra hours in order to make enough to live on.
     When he was 27 years old, he gave his life to Christ and found tremendous comfort in the Scriptures.  He knew God was faithful to provide for his needs, and one of his favorite verses came from Lamentations 3:22-24 which reads:  "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!”
     At the age of thirty six, Chisholm became a pastor.  Sadly, he could only serve in this capacity for a year as his health again became an issue.  He took another job as a life insurance salesman, but his devotion to the Lord grew as he wrote 1,200 poems which included several published hymns.
     While Thomas was away on a missions trip, he happened to write to a friend of his, William Runyan who was a little known musician at the time.  Several of the poems that Thomas Chisholm wrote were exchanged in the letters while he was away and one stood out to Runyan.  He was so moved by the poem that he wrote a musical score to accompany it.  As a result, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" was published in 1923.
     This hymn was not an instant success, but eventually became popular when George Beverly Shea  began singing it during Billy Graham Crusades in 1945.  Little did Thomas Chisholm know that even though he had to give up the pulpit ministry he was still able to minister through the words he had written to encourage others.  Mr. Chisholm died in 1960 at the age of 94 and left the world a testimony to the faithfulness of God.
     Reading stories about hymn writers puts life into the songs that we share in worship.  This man did not have an easy life and could easily have lapsed into depression or self-pity.  However, the key to his joy was found in a relationship to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  This should speak volumes to us because none of us is immune from loss, sorrow, sickness or other troubles in this world.  We can either wallow in sadness or find comfort in God's Word as Thomas Chisholm did.  As we read the words to this hymn, let us rejoice in the faithfulness of God who daily meets our needs and gives us great hope for tomorrow.  Selah!
                           Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas Chisholm – 1925

Great Is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Though changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain

Pardon for Sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

When All Else Fails....Read the Directions

     I hate reading directions.  Mostly this is because they are poorly translated from another language into English and make very little sense.  I do much better with someone showing me how to work a new gadget than I do with reading about it.  Of course, my dear husband has reminded me more than once to read the directions and I would not have trouble with the item I was trying to use.  However, there was one occasion when even he failed to read the directions carefully.
     I was out for an evening, and I left a frozen pizza for he and the boys to eat.  He set the oven correctly and thought he had followed all the directions.  When it came time to eat, the boys complained to their father about the doughiness of the pizza.  It was then that he realized he was supposed to have removed the cardboard from under the pizza before baking it.  No wonder it was doughy!  We joked about his incident afterwards but the story I am about to tell was not a laughing matter.
     Near east Tawas, Michigan, there is a small zoo housing exotic animals.  The park had ample signs warning people not to touch or get too close to the animals.  However, one woman, Renae Ferguson chose to ignore the signs and put her hand through a chain link fence to pet a male African Lion.  The lion bit off a good portion of her middle finger and now she is suing the park for not protecting people from the dangerous animals.  A guide had warned her along with all the signs, but she claims they did not actually physically stop her from doing what she did.  What part of failing to follow directions did this lady not get?  I used to laugh at some of the ridiculous directions I found printed on items like:  "Do not use the iron on clothing you are wearing".  Well...."duh" as they say, who would iron something they are currently wearing?  But obviously, there are people who would.  Hopefully this lawsuit will be thrown out since clearly there was plenty of warning signs.
     We may laugh when we read some of the foolish things that people do when they fail to read the directions, but are we any less foolish when we neglect reading the Bible?  In its pages are words of truth and instructions that lead to knowing the God of our creation.  It is written for us to guide us, teach us and lead us into righteous living.  According to II Timothy 3:16-17, the Word does this for us:  "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
God's Word does all this in the life of any believer who will take the time to mine its riches.  Do we want to be equipped for every good work?  Do we want to be competent when it comes to sharing truth with our neighbors?  Then, we need to read the Bible.
     In addition, the Bible also acts as an effective weapon in terms of spiritual warfare.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us:  "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  When we read the Word, we are changed by it for it is living.  It exposes our own faults and thoughts, so if there is any sin in us, we will be confronted by God's truth.  Likewise, it exposes the lies of the enemy as we discuss the truth of Christ with others.  What a powerful weapon in the hands of believers!
     Furthermore this Word of God will not pass away.  People have tried to stamp it out, burn it up and toss it in the garbage, but always this Word will stand.  In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."  Voltaire the French infidel, who died in 1778,  predicted that a hundred years from now the Bible and Christianity will be swept away.  Fifty years after his death, his home and printing press was used by the Geneva Bible Society to produce large quantities of Bibles.  He is gone, but God's Word stands just as the Lord said.
     Why is it that this precious resource is often the last thing that people turn to when they face difficulties and decisions?  It should be the first book we open on a daily basis.  In its pages, we will meet God for He reveals Himself to us.  The Bible is our source of spiritual nourishment.  However, the choice is ours.  Will we, like Renae Ferguson, choose to ignore all the warnings and march ahead with our plans?  If we do, we won't be able to sue God and tell Him that He never warned us or protected us.  It is all there in His Word.  Let us become students of the Bible that we might study to show ourselves approved by God and avoid the foolish actions that come from ignorance of what God requires of us.  Selah!

In Light of a Tragedy

     With news on Monday of Robin Williams apparent suicide, the media has been swarming all over this story.  It is a tragedy that anyone should feel their life so hopeless that they decide to end it, and often a death like this leaves more questions than answers.  No one knows what goes on in someone's mind except that person and God.  Furthermore, we do not know if Robin Williams put faith in Christ as His Savior.  Certainly our prayers go out to his family in this time of grief and shock.  Yet there are some important take aways from this sad event.
      First and foremost, the church as a whole and Christians individually need to be aware of depression.  The signs and symptoms can be easily identified.  Several days ago, I wrote about my own struggle with this illness and the help that is available out there in the form of counseling,
medication and support.  We need to watch out for those who are bereaved or who have been through some traumatic situation so that we can help them through their time of need.  If we see signs of depression, we should offer support and above all, pray for that person.
      Secondly, if we find ourselves afflicted with depression, we need to be able to ask for help.  There is no shame in admitting mental illness of any sort.  Our society has stigmatized this to the point that people are fearful of being labeled.  However, depression is no less an illness than diabetes and like diabetes, it is treatable.  We do no favors to others or ourselves, if we try to cover up our pain.  Admitting our need, calling out to God and seeking help does lead to finding the answers rather than pretending it does not exist.
     Finally, and most importantly, the death of this creative actor points to a crucial question that all need to consider.  Do we know that if we died tonight and stood before God that He would let us into His heaven?  On what basis would He do so?  On good works?  On our merit?  According to the Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) so my merits will not get me into heaven for I have none.  Then, when it comes to good works, Isaiah 64:6 tells me:  "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."  This verse makes it clear that in God's eyes, all my good deeds are like filthy rags; therefore my good works will not earn me heaven. On what, then, can we turn that will open the gates of eternal life in God's presence for us when we die?  Jesus told us clearly, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Jesus Christ is the only means by which we can be delivered from the bondage of sin.  His sinless life, His position as the Son of God, His perfect sacrifice on the cross in our place alone satisfies the justice of our holy God.  When God calls us to Christ, and we repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ, we are delivered from not only sin but eternal Hell which was prepared for Satan and the demons.
     There are no second chances after death as some believe.  Neither is there any reincarnation into another body.  The Bible clearly tells us in Hebrews 9:27:  "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..."  We have one opportunity in this life to receive the gift of salvation which God offers.  There are only two destinations after this life.  For believers, they will go to be with the Lord and live in His presence forever.  Those who reject the claims of Christ will experience eternal Hell.  This is why it is so important for us to share the Gospel message with friends and family.
     On numerous occasions, I have heard people speak that "so and so" is now resting in peace and is an angel in heaven.  However, we must ask ourselves on what basis do they make that claim?  Do they know for certain that this person made a profession of faith in Christ
?  The world assumes that no one will ever experience eternal punishment, but the Bible tells us otherwise.  This is why it is critical that we take every opportunity to share the grace of God with others and come alongside them when they are hurting.  God has the answers for the pain in life.  It cannot be found in drugs, alcohol or some other area.  What we all need is to fill the empty part of our lives with the love of God.  He, alone, can sustain us, keep us, heal us, and deliver us from the demon of depression.
     I cannot speak for Robin Williams as to his eternal destination.  We can only pray for his family, and recognize our need to help those who struggle as he did.  We also need to make it our goal as Christians to point to Jesus Christ as the only One who can help us find meaning in our lives.  May we be found faithful in this task.  Selah!