Scripture

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

~Revelation 1:19, KJV

Quote

A good man is never less alone than when he is alone with God.

~Matthew Henry

In preparing our message for Sunday, I was studying Mark 6:45-56 where Jesus commands His disciples to get into the boat and start across the lake. They got caught in a storm. Jesus not only knew the storm was coming, He was watching it unfold from above where He was alone praying. Storms constitute a threat to our physical being. They can make us afraid and fear can cause panic, pandemonium, or paralysis. Our greatest fear seems to revolve around our physical well being. More than anything esle, we are afraid to die. Paul was in prison when he wrote the letters to Timothy. He is literally on death row. He has endured one hearing and no sentence was passed. Paul said to Timothy, The Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom.

Paul didn’t mean that he was immune to physical harm or even death. He is referring to here and hereafter. Here [this life on earth] we can get caught in storms. We can find ourselves in dangerous situations but we do not have to be afraid because if we are not delivered here, we are delivered to hereafter. Death is the door to hereafter. Some of us are so focued on here that we lose sight of hereafter. Had you rather be on the sea fighting the wind and waves in the darkness of night or had you rather have Jesus come walking on the water and climb into the boat. Here and now, we have Him above interceding, but when He comes to save us from the storm: we have his very presence and there can be no storm or fear of a storm in His very presence. This is why Paul said, “To live is Christ, to die is a promotion.” Hereafter is better then here and now.

Extra

I sure enjoyed the cool weather. We got a brief shower last night, maybe enough to settle the dust. We got enough to keep the grass and weed growing. Jim is supposed to come home today. I will be leaving in a few minutes to check on him. August is doing like ever other month this year, it is flying by.

I hope you have a great Friday and weekend. Thanks for reading the blog.