“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
I Corinthians 15:22
 
I use to read a column in a local newspaper that was titled, “A life lived.”  It was an obituary that highlighted the life and times of one particular person from the area.  In some cases it told of the person’s world travels and the academic and business success they enjoyed.  Other times it told the story of the deceased’s love for a particular sports team or their dedication to a company who they worked for year after year.   Surviving family members in most cases were listed.  A common theme was past glories were revisited and shared with the readers.  There is nothing wrong with success and accomplishments.  There is no sin in having a favorite sports team that you root for, but when we draw our last breath, if our whole life is based on these things and these things alone we have missed what real life is about.

Faded glory is no foundation for a life to be built upon. Our verse today says, “For as in Adam all die.”  A Christ less life is empty and hopeless.  I know I lived such a life year after year.  Contentment will never be found in that which is fleeting.  Those who are still in Adam live life backwards.  The best of life is behind them.  Beauty is fading; strength is not what it once was; youth is slipping away year after year and so they live in the rear view mirror and too many of their sentences begin with, “I remember when.”   You can see the despair in their faces.  They are trying to make a life where no true life is found- In Adam.  If you are only born once, you will one day wish you had never been born at all.

Our verse teaches us, “In Christ shall all be made alive.”  True living is not the mark we make in this world apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is when one is born again (See John 3:3) and lives their life for the glory of Lord Jesus Christ.  That will truly be a “Life lived.”

“Thou tellest my wanderings:  put thou my tears into thy bottle:  are they not in thy book?  When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:  this I know; for God is for me.  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

 Psalm 56:8-11

Who can do any harm to us when God is for us?  He that counts the stars and knows them by name is for us.   He that authored the redemptive plan and sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to pay our debt for our sins, He is for us.  Have you ever really given thought to the fact that Almighty God is for you?  During a great time of distress brought about by the Philistines, David is not so overwhelmed that he is not able to remind himself, “God is for me.”  I wonder who it is that might represent the Philistine’s in your life at this very moment?  I pray that you will get a hold of this faith building truth and let it sink in deep so that you will stand strong in God’s power.

A wonderful picture is painted of God’s compassion and care for His people.   Our tears are gathered into a bottle and recorded into His book.   Many saints may say, “Where is God in all of these afflictions?”   My friend, He is close enough to bottle your tears.   In our times of great distress, David gives a wonderful template to follow.  We pray, we praise, we put our trust in our God and we put away fear.

Remember God who sent His only begotten Son and, by such a merciful act saved us from eternal damnation, is for us.   Psalm 118:6 says, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do to me?”  Do not shrink back and do not flee.   The one who delights in you is for you- not for an hour, not for a day and not for a season, but always and forever, He is your mighty fortress. God is for us.

“And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.” Psalm119:47
 
I would like for you to consider these words from Andrew Murray that were written years ago.
“Christians do not know how much they rob Christ in reading so much of the literature of the world.  They are often so occupied with their newspapers that the Bible gets a very small place.  Bring this noble power of a mind that can think heavenly, eternal, and infinite things, and lay it at the feet of Jesus.”
 
It is amazing how the words from long ago can stir up conviction within our hearts.  Things have not changed.  We still have those things that compete with our time in God’s Word.  The question that we must answer is, what are we going to do about it?  We must make a choice.  What will we do with the choice we need to make?  It’s up to us.                                         

 
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17
 
A short time after I was saved, I remember these verses jumping off the page of my Bible. It was like a jack hammer breaking away that which was false (The world and its desires) and unearthing that which was truth. The truth was being reveled about the reality of this world.  It was an exciting time that I look back on fondly because a veil was being pulled back and I truly began to see and understand the truth. I can’t tell you how many times I said to myself, “I can’t believe how wrong I have been about so many things!”  Psalm 119:105 says it perfectly, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” I had never known anything, but the world and its ways.  John is speaking of the world system.  That which functions in a way that is the complete opposite of God and His Word is the world system.  Sin being the center attraction and the lost following right along.  As a babe in Christ, I needed the proper perspective and what better place to find it than in God’s Word. We all need a proper perspective.

Dear believer, contentment will never be found in this world.  Everything has an expiration date on it. Everything is fleeting and is as a hand full of smoke which we cannot hold on to.  This should not make us as believers depressed or down trodden.  Remember, we are, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).  AMEN!!

David wrote, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 37:1).  Don’t allow what may appear to be the smooth road that the wicked travels on fool you into thinking they have it made.  The second verse of Psalm thirty-seven says, “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”  Keep your eyes upon Jesus!  Keep your mind filled with God’s Word!  Get and know the proper and powerful perspective that is found in the precious Word. Don’t get caught up in that which is fleeting and fruitless, but continue down the old path that is tried and true.  God will never lead you astray.

Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
 
Restlessness can be caused by a number of things in one’s life.  How often unanswered prayer can leave us a little undone and if we are not careful we can be carried away in a direction that God never intended.  At times the mundaneness of everyday living can cause one to become restless.  We look and concentrate on the here and now instead of taking heed of Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”  An extended illness can leave one restless in their spirit.  We can dig ourselves into a pit of self-pity if we are not careful.  We must apply God’s principles to any and every situation in our lives.  As we desire to walk in the Spirit we will be empowered by our verses today and this will be the remedy for our restlessness.  We have three wonderful truths that will indeed combat any restlessness we feel.

I. Rejoice ever more- I am not prescribing that we don’t acknowledge whatever it may be that is causing the restlessness.  When we rejoice in the Lord and His goodness, such unsettledness will be replaced by the sweet thoughts and sounds of our rejoicing in the Lord. The Lord is the words and the melody of our rejoicing song.

2. Pray without ceasing- Prayer can takes our minds off of ourselves and direct our thoughts towards the hurt, pain and concerns of others.  Prayer brings us closer to the Lord.  In the closet, on the job, in the automobile- You fill in the blank! Pray and then pray again! Let your day be saturated and soaked in prayer. Let prayer flow continually without ceasing.

3. In everything give thanks- We have so much to be thankful for.  Make a list if needed and write all the ways you have been blessed.  The restlessness will fade as you confess out loud all that you have to be thankful for. I have found there is a double portion of blessing when I thank the Lord out loud for His bountiful blessings.  You will know joy in your heart when thanksgiving is found upon your lips. Giving thanks allows us to walk down the memory lane of God’s goodness.

It is God’s will that we would do such things- Don’t put it off, start at this very moment and you will, in no time, learn the remedy for your restlessness is following these simple yet powerful instructions from the Word of God.

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9
 
Sin brought with it spiritual death and a great chasm between God and man.  Along with these came a hunger that all of the delicacies of this world cannot still, subdue or satisfy. But God has made a way to, “satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul." The Lord Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).  I know that many must laugh and mock at such truth while reaching for another cup of the world in hopes to quench their thirst. The devil literally whispers sweet nothings in their ears while they fall deeper and deeper in the trash bin of degradation and into the depths of sin. The outcome of such a life is filled with terrible consequences that accompany such a life of emptiness and shallowness that the world promotes and pushes.  The path is well worn and the story has been told time and again.  Those of us who are saved should not cease thanking God for the new life that we have in Christ Jesus, while praying with a fire and fervency for the lost.

God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and God's word teaches us such a wonderful and satisfying truth, "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world" (John 6:33). Not being saved until I was thirty-six years old I lived a big chunk of my life trying to fill that which only God can fill.  One will never know true satisfaction until they are born again! The saved have true meaning and fulfillment in their life. Amen and Amen.

Christian, let's praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works and why is that?  “Because, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul."  That is true satisfaction.

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Tracy Killinger