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January 2008
Hello Family of God,
As always, thank you again for your kindness! I appreciate so much your friendship, emails and letters. Your prayers and encouraging words have meant so much!
I want to share with you today about a most encouraging topic..."Disappointment." It’s not often looked at as an encouraging topic, but the Bible has a way of turning every negative in this life into a positive. And this is a lesson I have learned firsthand.
I remember when Sheltie was a puppy and I decided to take him for his very first "walk." He had adjusted to wearing a collar but this thing called a "leash" was definitely not to his liking. I took a step and gave the leash a tiny tug and all of a sudden four little paws hit the brakes. Then came the coaxing, the words of encouragement and even a little cheerleading. Nope! This thing called a "walk" just was NOT happening. And as far as the leash was concerned, in the eyes of this little puppy, it had become public enemy number one!
In a sense I can relate to Sheltie’s first experience with "the walk." Previous to "the Great Disappointment of the 21st century," I had felt the heat of trials in my life on many occasions. But I had never taken a lengthy walk on "the dark side..." of life. Nor did I want to go there. I have always had an aversion to heartache, calamity, solitude and sheer wretchedness. Surely Job’s experience was for him and him alone. I somehow imagined God never intended for His child, ME, to suffer and bear incredibly heavy burdens similar to Job. But folks, while we are on planet earth and experiencing the side affects of a world full of sin, He must allow the trials to come. So in a sense He said to me, "Child, come and take a walk on this side of the road for awhile." I yanked, I pulled and I did not accept it. After all, I didn’t belong here. This wasn’t my calling. I’m allergic to pain. This isn’t my comfort zone. This isn’t fair, just or right! But here I am. No words could possibly begin to describe my pain and heartache.
We are not alone when it comes to "walking on the dark side." Joseph was betrayed by his own family, sold into slavery and persecuted for his virtue and integrity. David was hunted by one jealous of his anointing. Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions because He put God first. Job lost his family, wealth, health and more and still maintained his faith in God. Jeremiah was cast into a pit because of his straight testimony. Stephen was stoned. Paul was beaten and thrown into prison. The disciples of Christ suffered very much. The Reformers were slandered, brought before the authorities of the day and some were murdered. It is estimated that millions of Christians bearing incredible torture have lost their lives for upholding the torch of faith. Even the King of Kings and Lord of Lords had to bear enormous reproach and hardship. But the conclusion of it all was magnanimous...the salvation of mankind!!
John the Revelator was the last living survivor of the disciples who walked and witnessed the life of Jesus while on this earth. He was a powerful witness for the God of heaven and often felt the heat of wicked men who wanted to overturn the effects of his ministry. Finally these wicked men concluded that they must get rid of John. So, of course, their wicked plan began with slander and accusations of the worst kind. John answered these accusations clearly and to the point and his words had a powerful effect on the listeners. Yet the more convincing John was, the more angry and filled with venom were John’s accusers. It was an anger that led to rage and a rage that led to the spirit of murder. Thus, John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil. Inspiration says John declared "My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and His angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." (AA 569-70) Eventually the confused guards that had thrown John in the boiling oil had to get him out. (Can you imagine the praise and thanksgiving coming from John after witnessing such a miracle?) But the evil men devised another plan to be rid of John. He was banished to the Isle of Patmos.
"So it will be with all who will live godly in Christ Jesus. Persecution and reproach await all who are imbued with the Spirit of Christ. The character of the persecution changes with the times, but the principle, the spirit that underlies it, is the same that has slain the chosen of the Lord ever since the days of Abel." (AA 575)
Patmos was a rocky, barren, rather stark, foreboding place which was chosen by the Roman government as a place of banishment for criminals. In John’s previous years he enjoyed much beauty among thick forests, lush valleys, and fruitful farmlands. But all of a sudden he was surrounded by gloom, doom and a landscape that left much to be desired. What was John’s response? Inspiration says "Among the cliffs and the rocks of Patmos John held communion with His Maker. He reviewed his past life and at the thought of the blessings he had received, peace filled his heart... While his surroundings might be desolate and barren, the blue heavens that bent above him were as bright and beautiful as the skies above his beloved Jerusalem. In the wild, rugged rocks, in the mysteries of the deep, in the glories of the firmament he read important lessons. All bore the message of God’s power and glory." (AA 571-72) Undoubtedly being locked up as a prisoner on Patmos had to be a disappointment to John. He was human like us. But inspiration declares "he received more communications from heaven than he had received during all the former years of his life." (AA 573) So the most disappointing period in the life of John through human eyes became glorious!
A noted time of disappointment in history was the Great Disappointment. An earnest group of followers, led by William Miller, believed with all of their hearts Christ was coming in the 1840's. When He didn’t come many were incredibly disappointed. But think about it, if they had not suffered disappointment we would not have ever been born. Their disappointment became our Blessed Hope! As a result many more, including us, have the opportunity to say YES to the gospel message!! The pages of Adventist history are marred with much disappointment. But the conclusion is this: disappointment is God’s appointment!
A long time ago, before my understanding in Christ had matured, I believed that when Adam and Eve sinned God was angry, so His response was He cursed the ground. But upon closer inspection one finds that God did not do this out of anger, He did this out of love for mankind. I believe He thought, "Now, what would be the very BEST environment for my children to receive a NEW HEART and the GIFT of salvation?" Yes! You guessed it! It’s a world full of weeds, rocks, problems, challenges and a HUGE need for divine help!! So "through trial and persecution the glory, the character, of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The believers in Christ, hated and persecuted by the world are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. On earth they walk in narrow paths, they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts, they endure self-denial and experience bitter disappointments; but thus they learn the guilt and woe of sin and they look upon it with abhorrence. Being partakers of Christ’s sufferings they can look beyond the gloom to the glory saying, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
It has taken me some time to work through the deluge of human emotions to arrive at this conclusion, but I have arrived. And this is a place where we all must reside before the end comes. By the way, after a bit of time Sheltie began to look at the leash as a welcome friend. In fact, now he runs up a flight of stairs to retrieve the leash and he brings it to me with a wagging tail in anticipation of "the walk!" I don’t know if we as human beings will ever fervently welcome disappointment like this, but after prayer and reflection we can learn to appreciate the heavenly gifts that result from it. God ALWAYS has a silver lining as "He works all things for good for those who love Him and who are called to His purposes."
Additionally, it’s true, the Gospel of a broken heart demands the ministry of bleeding hearts. "As soon as we cease to bleed, we cease to bless. When our sympathy loses its pangs we can no longer be the servants of Passion. We can never heal the needs we do not feel. Tearless hearts can never be the heralds of the Passion. We must bleed if we would be the ministers of the saving blood." Not long ago someone came up to me and said, "Linda, I am sure you will be a part of the 144,000. The Lord has allowed you to go through the fire for a reason." I do not speculate if this is true or not. But I have learned to glory in my afflictions for I have, in the dust, discovered that when I am weak then He is OH, SO STRONG!! Praise His Name!
When Noah built the Ark God told him to build the window in the roof. He didn’t build it in the side of the ship because all he would have been able to see was the raging waters and a lot of destruction. God instructed Noah to build the window in the roof to keep him "looking up." In the troubled times in which we are living we need to keep our eyes, our thoughts and prayers heavenward! The inclinations we might have to look around at the deeds of others, to cast judgment and reproach need to be cast aside. Faith is the key! Firm connection to our heavenly Father is our mission! "My faith looks UP to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary..." My license plate says "UPBOUND." That’s where I am headed, that’s where I am looking and that is what I talk about and that’s what I think about! It’s my prayer that the "Upbound Journey" will be the way you choose too. The great thing about this elevator is that it ONLY goes UP! Keep your eyes on the Prize and may God’s richest blessings be yours!!
His love and mine,
Linda Shelton
P.S. Have you heard about "Polly’s Place Network?" It is a divinely appointed ministry for THIS hour in earth’s history. We are living in a society where Biblically sound principles are really needed to be integrated into our world’s families. Dysfunction, abuse, family violence, teen pregnancy, emotional and mental disorders are real problems, even in the homes of Christian people. I would like to invite you to join with me in supporting Polly’s Place network, founded by Dr. Mable Dunbar. Find out more about this much needed ministry at pollysplacenetwork.com
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