Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing

The American dream is contrary to the truth of the Bible.

"The American Dream is the idea that the government should protect each person's opportunity to pursue their idea of happiness." (https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-american-dream-quotes-and-history-3306009).

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence).

American culture defines "liberty" as "the freedom to be self-directed and autonomous, to do what I want with no one telling me I shouldn't" (unless of course, someone else's liberty infringes on mine, in which case mine should win).

It defines "pursuit of happiness" as a goal which can be attained by economic prosperity. Having enough money will let me "pursue my dreams" which will bring me happiness. Happiness also comes by the liberty to do whatever I want without having negative consequences for it.

But what does Scripture describe as the truth, and as the reality of living in a fallen world?

1. You are not ever free to do as you like with no consequences. You are either a slave to sin or a slave to God.

2. God made you, and as Creator he has the complete right to tell you what to do. You do not have the "liberty" to be self-directed and autonomous from God. By nature, you are under his jurisdiction, irrevocably.

3. True joy is only found "at God's right hand," and the love of money leads to being "pierced through with many sorrows."

4. In this life, and in this body, we "groan".  All creation groans under the curse, and that includes every individual life. One should never expect to reach a point at which they will achieve a life without groaning in this age.

5. True "life" is only found in Jesus, who is "the way, the truth, and the life."  He is the bread from Heaven and the living water.  Only in him will a person ever find satisfaction for the soul.

Especially for the Christian, we can expect life to be difficult and full of sorrows:

2 Corinthians 4:6-10

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:2-4

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Yet even with this in mind, Paul goes on to say:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Knowing the groaning of this age does not mean we should be constantly depressed.  No - he says, "so we are always of good courage".  Why?  Not because life got better. But because our better life is promised to us after death.  The prospect of being with the Lord is to give us "good courage" as we walk in a life of daily groaning.

And then, what is to be the result of this hope that we have?

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

We are to make it our aim, to please Christ.  

This is contrary to the American dream, which has as its aim, "liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Pleasing Christ will actually bring us true life, liberty, and happiness; but we can only gain those things by pursuing HIM, not by pursuing those things themselves.

And Paul, knowing that Judgement Day is coming, also makes it his aim to "persuade others" - to preach of sin, and judgement, and salvation, so that those around us who are pursuing all the fading pleasures of this life will be wakened to see the judgement to come and the Savior who is their only hope.

What is to be the Christian's purpose for living?

2 Corinthians 5:15

[Christ] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

To live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

To live for Christ -- not for the American dream of pursuing liberty and happiness.

To sign up for the marine corp led by Christ, committing oneself to be "all in", with life revolving around the General's commands, and with everything else subservient to that.

So if one does this, what will his life in this world look like?

It will look like suffering servants of God, just like Jesus was:

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

No wonder Paul says this:

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Why then is it worth living in the Christian marine corp?

Why is it worth looking like someone who is "most to be pitied"?

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20a

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. … But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.

In other words: in Christ, you are no longer in your sins; your faith is not futile. Your salvation is real, your reconciliation with God is accomplished, and your life in eternity will be full of joy and glory and satisfaction.

Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Jesus is the treasure in the field; he who embraces Christ as such is willing to pay whatever it costs to gain Him.

Mark 8:36-37

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

The Christian has to live by faith in these things.  If he lives by sight, he will see all the things "most to be pitied". He will see the dying, the punishment, the sorrow, and the poverty that can be the lot of Christ's followers, without being able to see by faith, the life, the rejoicing, and the riches that are ours in Christ -- and that are promised in greater fullness after we finish this race of faith.

Christian -- be encouraged!

Not because some prosperity preacher promises "your best life now."

But because, though we groan daily in this life now, we are promised the truest and best life to come, with Christ forever!

Revelation 21:3-5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” 

Revelation 22:3-7a

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. … And behold, I am coming soon."

Psalm 89

https://www.esv.org/Psalm+89/

Ethan (the psalmist here) has a problem: he knows with a certainty, who God is and what God is like. God is righteous. Just. Full of steadfast love and faithfulness. He rules nature. He rules the nations. 

Yet Ethan looks around and sees circumstances that seem to contradict God's faithfulness.  God had made an eternal covenant with David, promising that his sons' dynasty would last forever.  Yet Ethan sees the covenant nation destroyed by enemies, in ruins, plundered and mocked.  Where is God's faithfulness now? Where is his steadfast love toward his people?

Do we not do this? We so easily use our circumstances to interpret God's ways. "If God is a God of love, a God in control of everything, and a God who has power to do everything, why does he give me chronic pain?  Why did he let my loved one die?"

If Ethan could have time traveled several hundred years into the future, he could have seen and understood that God's covenant with David would indeed be fulfilled - in Christ. That God's faithfulness was always there. That God's plan was higher and greater than the physical well-being of the physical nation of Israel.  That the ultimate King - and Prophet - and Sacrifice - would come one day, from the line of David, not to bring political and societal peace and prosperity, but to deliver his people from their real bondage: sin and death.

O God! Give us faith to believe in YOU. In your character. Your perfect plan. Your promises. When we see circumstances that seem to contradict all those things, help us to live by faith, remembering Ethan and the Israelites' time of exile.  So many who went into exile would never see the end result, the ways that your faithfulness worked itself out in the nation of Israel.  They would have had to either give up their faith that you were who you said you were (merciful and gracious, full of steadfast love, faithful to your promises) -- or to believe that somehow, you were true and faithful, and that that would be evident one day, even though they could not imagine now, how it would work itself out.

Ethan ends with "Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen."

He holds his faith though he does not understand what God is doing.

May we say the same.

Behold - your God!

Isaiah 40

whom the LORD would call his own
he chastens when they go astray
then tenderly would comfort them
bind up the wounds that he has made

when Yahweh's glory was revealed -
the Word made flesh, the Father's Son -
it showed itself in grace outpoured
in mercy, truth - salvation won

God has but to blow on man -
he withers, dies, a transient plant
no power to sustain his life -
but God's Word will forever stand

Behold! The Lord Jehovah comes
with mighty arm, with outstretched hand
the Ruler of the kings of earth
the Judge before whom none can stand.

Behold! He comes - to seek his sheep
the mighty One comes tenderly
the lambs to gather in his arms
the weak he carries, shields from harm
his weary ones he gently leads

The oceans fit within his hand
his fingers mark the stars' expanse
he knows how much the mountains weigh
he numbers all the grains of sand

what counsel would he need to seek?
what help, that he might understand?
all nations are as dust to him
inconsequential, weightless, chaff

to whom will you compare this God -
an idol that can never move
created by a man of dust,
itself consigned to turn to dust?

God rules the princes of the earth
makes them become as emptiness
he blows upon the mightiest
they wither, die, and are no more

To whom then will you liken God?
He knows the number of the stars
he made them, calls them all by name
his awesome might sustains them all

and yet the Everlasting One -
the infinite, the mighty God -
he understands my deepest needs
my ways, my thoughts - he knows them all

though he is high and lifted up
the weary he does not despise
the faint, exhausted, find in him
the strength to rise and soar the skies

Come, stand in awe of this your God
whose glories shine by showing grace,
whose mighty power, by tenderness;
the Infinite One knows my needs
the mighty God renews the weak
the stars appear by his command -
he carries me, his wayward lamb.

little foxes

little foxes

my fickle heart

so quickly swayed

to worship anything but God

to seek my satisfaction, joy

in all that is created

rather than allow those joys

to point to the Creator

it was a small, a good thing

a gift from God my Father

something pleasant, wonderful -

my heart began to chase it

to crave the satisfaction

the comfort to my soul

and always, wanting more

even when I knew

that this distracted me from Christ

I wanted both.

could I not thoroughly enjoy

a good thing - an end in itself -

and still hold fast to Christ?

and so I strove to do that

knowing Christ should be my all

yet pursuing something else

to be my satisfaction

one cannot have two masters

two rulers of the soul

only one will be obeyed

and here, while flesh still clings to me,

my heart will always stray

chasing satisfaction

from that which has been made -

a broken cistern which can hold no water -

never meant to satisfy the heart

but to turn me toward the Living Water

never think you are secure

unable to be tempted

nor that your hold on Christ is such

that you can safely grasp for other things

seek out your heart:

what are your loves?

what motivates your actions?

what pleasures turn you from the Lord?

where is your satisfaction?

beware the little foxes

they will destroy your vineyard

good gifts quickly turn to idols

for my heart forgets the Giver,

clings to what is seen and felt and touched

as though the gift did not point to the Giver

find the idols; cast them down!

ruthlessly remove yourself

from that which strays your heart

though it seem to be small

or is good in itself

for your flesh is too strong

do not deceive yourself

thinking you can keep idols, and Christ

for the idols will always win

until Christ tears them from you -

humbled, with Jacob's limp -

that you might cling only to Him

Shepherd

The mighty God, the LORD
tenderly cares for His sheep
yet they all go away
each to his own way.
The I AM puts on dust
the Shepherd comes in flesh;
to seek His sheep
He becomes one of them -
the Lamb of God
led to the slaughter
offering Himself up
to be crushed for their sins -
so that they would hear Him
follow Him
stay with Him forever;
so that never would their wandering
lead them to perish,
nor Hell nor sin nor Satan
snatch them
out of His hand.

----
Isaiah 40:10-11
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 53:6-7
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:5, 10
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. … Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Our Hope is Christ

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 1:27-28
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:19-20
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…

"Occasionally, weep deeply over the life that you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Feel the pain. Then wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life that he’s given you."
https://www.desiringgod.org/embrace-the-life-god-has-given-you
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/we-cant-grieve-however-we-want

Yes - weep deeply your sorrows and grieve them. Then look up, fix your eyes on Christ your hope, and pour yourself into serving your Master, the One who will soon return to reward His people and to make all things new.

The way it has always been

Peter continues with his chemo treatments, thankfully still with his blood counts having been good every time.  He has two more weekly chemos and then it drops to once every three weeks.  He has had recurring vomiting, but I think it is improving as we try different things; lately it has coincided with when he coughs vigorously, rather than resulting from nausea.  God's grace is new every day.

A common question we hear is, "How are you holding up?" or "How are the other kids handling things?"

When Peter was in the hospital, it did make life more difficult, and the family felt our absence. It was harder for me to manage life in two places at once.

But other than that, and the adjustment period to the cancer diagnosis and the treatment regimen - the truth is that this is just an extension of the way life has always been with Peter.

He has always had multiple appointments to go to, often with therapy once a week and random doctors' appointments regularly throughout the year.  He has always had issues to figure out and troubleshoot.  There has often been the weariness, the lack of free time, the hours spent researching some new thing in hopes of something else helping him.

So yes, it is God's grace that sustains us.  It is God's grace that has always sustained us.

But this is also normal life for many families whose kids have special needs: weekly appointments for therapy (which take hours out of your day), extra work to do during the day and evening, regular doctors' appointments for this or that, weariness, lack of free time, and struggles to make it to church.  If the kids have medical needs, they may end up with recurring hospital stays (we thank God that that has not been our normal).  Especially if the kids have mental or emotional needs, the parents often just don't go to church at all, or not as a family, because the church has no accommodations for them.

Our church has been so supportive during the last few months.  We are thankful for everyone's concern and prayers, and (for local folks) for the meals you brought when we were in the hospital in December, and for the many who have taken turns staying home with Peter so that the rest of us could be in church on Sundays.

That is the kind of support that parents with special needs could use on a regular basis - as they are often pushed to their limits (mentally, emotionally, physically, financially) more than those who have normal kids. And I am thankful that our church does seek to meet the needs of those who are in the church.

But there are plenty in our community who never get that support.

This is why I so wish we had a ministry to families with special needs. A program where they could show up with their child who is 10 but acts like he is 3, or who has autism that results in loud and disruptive behavior, and someone at church would be assigned to be their buddy during church, or sit with them in another room, or teach a special SS class for them, or whatever it takes to enable the parents to sit in the worship service.

These are parents who are regularly under a lot of stress and have a lot of needs - and who need the gospel.  Their marriages are often under more stress also.  But they are not just going to walk into a church without some provision for their child who is currently unable to sit in church.  Maybe they do need better parenting habits; maybe their children are just undisciplined; but maybe the problem is bigger than that, due to the child's brain damage from injury or a genetic problem or autism.  Maybe if they had the support of godly people, they could improve their parenting. Maybe at least they would find the grace of God if they had a way to come to church and hear the Word and find fellowship and refreshment.  These needy families are all around us in the community and often have little opportunity to hear the gospel.

The road of cancer treatment is long and uncertain. After treatment there is follow-up for however many months or years, and sometimes long-term effects from it all, along with the possibility of recurrence.

The road of raising a child with special needs can feel longer and more uncertain than cancer. It lasts a lifetime. It is full of hopes and dreams that often have to be denied and changed. It forever changes your expectations of family and parenting.

For God's children, any difficult road is a tool used by His Fatherly hand to prune us, to make us more like Jesus, to weed out our sin and to increase our love for Him.  Whether that road ends in healing or death or a lifelong sorrow - "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him." (1Samuel 3:18).