Lift up your eyes
In the book of Romans are to be found these words: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
It was the conviction of Paul that no matter what might happen to us God is eternally present and that he works amidst the worst that happens bringing about good.
As Christians we do not need to be very old to look back upon our lives and see that things we viewed as catastrophic turned out to be blessings. Things we thought at the time to be disasters turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to us.
In one of his books Charles Allen said, “In my own life, over and over, I find that my disappointments are God’s appointments.” And haven’t you and I found it to be so?
Years ago in northern Scotland a wealthy nobleman invited to his beautiful hunting lodge a group of his friends for a weekend outing. During the first evening one of the guests, uncorking a bottle of champagne, splashed its contents all over a newly painted wall. It left an ugly brown spot from the floor to the ceiling.
All through the weekend those in attendance watched the unsightly stain darken, and were quite put out with the careless and unruly guest. There was little doubt in anyone’s mind but that the wall had been ruined.
After the other guests had left, one man remained behind. He studied the unsightly brown blotch minutely. With permission from his host, he set to work. First with crayons, then with charcoal and finally with oils, he turned the unsightly stain into a large brown boulder.
Then, flowing over the boulder, he painted a sparkling stream. Next, where the stain was darkest, he painted a leaping stag. In the background could be seen pursuing hunters. The ugly splotch had been transformed. In its place was a mural of unsurpassing beauty.
The man who accomplished this feat was Sir Edwin Landseer, the famous English artist best known perhaps for the carved stone lions at the base of the monument of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square.
For all of us, I think, there are unsightly, ugly things in our lives of which we are ashamed. If we sincerely desire it, we can invite the Master to come in and he can transform and change them completely.
Where weeds flourish, he will place flowers. Where thorns abound, he will plant roses. Deserts will become gardens flowing with living water. The sordid scenes of the lives we live will become a source of inspiration and blessing.
Our God is always near and in all things—everything that happens—works for good with those who love him.
His love has no limits,
His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary
Known unto men;
For out of His infinite
Riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth,
And giveth again.
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including
“This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)
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