The Great Keeper

The last three years of my mailman career were spent in northeast Ohio. We had record snowfalls all three years, each surpassing the former. I have a sort of romantic love of snow, like I’m living out a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, but after walking through a foot of it all day, the legs become rubbery, and I would end up stumbling into my house and immediately falling into my bed. “Just pull my boots off and let me sleep!”

Most of us know that feeling of just stumbling around seemingly aimlessly, either because we’re tired or maybe because we are sick. That was always a tale tell sign of our kids’ lack of wellbeing. They may have wanted to play with their friends, but if they could barely stand up, we knew something was wrong.

At times, God’s people were found to be stumbling through life, not due to the weather, but their own sin (Hosea 5:5). Isaiah draws a well-known comparison, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV). It’s an interesting paradox. The young, who are supposed to have all the vim and vigor, are weary and falling; while those who wait on the Lord are overflowing with spiritual vitality. Notice there is no age limit on these godly ones!

So, what brings on this surprising strength? Like Isaiah, Jude informs us, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). It is a heart-inspiring thought that God is right there with us during circumstances, that would bring others down, we can survive with His great energy!

It reminds me of those giant offensive linemen in football. The quarterback tries to sneak the ball over the goal line, but just as he is falling down short of it, his teammates grab him and push through for the score.

But we have a role in this as well. As God keeps us from stumbling, He says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20-21). God keeps us as we strive to keep ourselves in His love. Beautiful and lifesaving!

We conclude as Jude did, “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” Are you stumbling, or strutting your strength right now?

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ

Chicken of Change?

Did you know that Reynolds Wrap, originally owned by Richard S. Reynolds, Sr., was connected to the cigarette manufacturing of R. J. Reynolds? The special aluminum wrap was designed to keep the cigarettes dry. Richard was RJ’s nephew.

Reynolds Wrap originally was made (or based) in Louisville, KY, then New York City, then Richmond, VA; and now, back in Louisville. However, after being part of the Alcoa company, it is now owned by a company based in New Zealand. New Zealand!

Changes are interesting, aren’t they? But if I was an employee for Reynolds Wrap in Richmond in 2008 and was told they were closing the plant and moving its operation to Louisville, I don’t think I would call it “interesting.”

Changes can be very hard. A few years ago, a young mother was telling me about her husband accepting an offer for his engineering skills . . . in China. They packed up and moved there, but even though he was well paid, after a few short weeks, she couldn’t handle the cultural transition any more. They were back in the States by the end of the year.

We’ve all heard, “Change is a part of life,” but how should we handle it? “Just roll with it,” we’ve been told, but what if the change isn’t our choice? What if the change is even caused by tragedy?

The classic words of “The Preacher” in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,” are summed up with the fact that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (3:11 NKJV). Therein lies the solution to our anxieties about change. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

In Hebrews 11 we have an overview of some amazing, godly people and their lives. A common thread that connects them all is how they responded to change. Over and over in that chapter we are reminded of the solution: “By faith.” “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (11:8).

Did you catch that? “He went out, not knowing where he was going”! That sounds like life. We like to think we have it all figured out, but we don’t. The only way to achieve success and peace of mind is to completely trust our “Helper.” Will you?

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ