spiritualthought

With Father's Day approaching this weekend, I thought it might be good to hear from a couple of them as we close out the week. In this case, it's Solomon who, for the most part anyway, became the role model for his sons by obtaining his wisdom from the best Source there is--his heavenly Father. Following God's commandments gave him the moral impetus he needed to live our a successful life on planet Earth. It also enabled him to confidently instruct his children with the challenge: 'obey my commandments.' When the principles we as parents adhere to in our own lives match God's will, we can instruct our children and grand-children with the same sense of moral authority.

This concept of 'length of days' and 'years of life' reminds us that the daily pathway we tread is truly an adventure, filled with both the predictable and the unpredictable, blessings abundant accompanied (many times simultaneously) with more than enough troubles and trials to keep us busy with the moment at hand, as well as wondering about tomorrow. One of the pitfalls in this ever-present mental juggling act is our continuing human inclination to focus on the past. When we do that, it isn't long before the complaints start flowing from our lips. We 'remember when;' some long-ago time bathed in constant sunshine and painless leisure when everything was cheaper, easier, and more comfortable than it is today. Nostalgia is not a totally bad thing, but it surely has the ability to make the present and future seem more traumatic than they truly are. I guarantee you, as you compare 'then' with 'now,' you will be grumbling in no time!

I know, because I am as guilty as the next person. Then it finally dawns on me: 'How silly is that!' Chances are, if I were able to go back to 'then,' I would probably find myself looking back to another 'then' years before that was 'a long-ago time bathed in sunshine....' Well, you get the idea.

You may be grumbling right now about a particular situation, or maybe just the state of affairs in this world in general. I would be willing to guess that two or three years from today, the 'now' you and I are complaining about will become a 'then' which we look back on, remembering for its being 'the good old days.' What we cover with griping 'now' will be fondly recalled with, 'Boy, it was great back then, wasn't it?'

We need to STOP!. We must not allow ourselves to live in a bygone world, some dreamy past leisure or pleasure, that probably never truly existed (except in our imaginations). God is a God of 'today,' of 'now,' and He says, 'As your day, so shall your strength be.' Whatever your 'then' was or wasn;t, of one thing you can be sure. As God was there 'then' He is here for you 'now,' and He will be with you 'tomorrow.' Your past situations may not have been all you remember them to be, but the God we serve is 'the same yesterday, today, and forever,' and He continues to show Himself strong and mighty all along the way!