How Comes Failure?


The Lord came to me, in the Promise to all men: “I will be with you, teaching you what is right and good to do and be”.  And so I grew in His Holy wisdom.

Misunderstanding dressed me, as He offered His pledge.   “He has made me a righteous man; by knowledge, He has lifted me from sin to righteous doings.”  But days passed.  Years came and went.  Though knowledge came, I found sin and folly were bound up in me still.

Perplexity confronted me.  In my days and nights I pondered.  “How can I know these things, yet do the abhorrent?  Where is the fruit of purity?  Where are the things, among my belongings, that pleased Him so in His Holy Son?”

Desire to become, rages within me.  Yet I find mistakes.  Where I expected to find clarity of truth, I found only sparadic (as if by mistake) “good works”.  How can such desire, diligent desire, produce such shoddy a crop? 

How could it be, that I should set my hands upon a sturdy and well honed plow, hitch it to such a strong and well trained work horse, set my eyes on the singular oak at the end of my field, yet plow such a crooked line?

And if I had reached into my bag of seeds, placed each one by careful measure, covered them with tender fingers.  Why does my field produce bitter and wicked fruit?

Wisdom brings the answer, two fold.

I had not emptied my bag of seeds; that only good seed might remain.  My balance is not perfected.  Knowledge, within me, lacks a studious audience.  And my expectations are those of a child who puts his tiny feet into his daddy’s giant shoes: “I see him walk well in these.  I will also use them to do the same”.

And wisdom speaks from far beyond the ability of man: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builder builds in vain”.

“Be patient, my frail and tiny child.  I hold your promise in my Holy hand.  When I call you to be an eternal man, you will have your desire in full.”

By His Grace

Who?


A man’s arm does not fall off because his child is rebellious.  No part of the parent’s body is rejected because the child rejects the parent.  Though there is grief in the parent, the child is the one who suffers the greater loss.

So it is with eternity.  Not the slightest sliver of eternity will suffer loss because you are not there.  Due to the immense joy of salvation, no one will mourn for you.  They might look for you to share in mutual joy.  But when you are not found, no tear will fall.

In this world a man may cause suffering because of his rebellion.  And in his evil heart, he may even take joy in delivering such things.  These are the wicked things of a wicked child.

In this world a man may be lax in doing the work of Christ Jesus.  And truly, the kingdom suffers on earth for the lack of many to obey.  But do not think to yourself, your disobedience will cause God difficulty or pain.

The names of the wicked will be blotted out forever.  Their rebellion will find no strength against God nor his people.  The effectiveness of rebellion will cease!

“A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.” (Psalm 37: 10)

The wicked laugh at the righteous.  “See how miserable their life is!  They do not play with us.  They cannot have joy.”   The wicked mock the Holy Name and ways of God.  But they are the ones who have no place before the throne of the Holy Lord of life.  Nor will they share in the everlasting joy to come.

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Matthew 5)

When all these promises come to pass, the memory of the wicked will be no more.  Enjoy your popularity now.  You will cease to be.

By His Grace