And This Too Shall Pass Away
Monday 12th May 2008
In an address to Wisconsin State Agriculture Society in 1859, Abraham Lincoln told of an Eastern monarch who gave his counsellors an assignment to come up with a truth that would apply to all times and situations. After careful consideration, they returned with this sentence: “And this too shall pass away”. Said Lincoln, “How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the hour of affliction.”
Spring is a time when the old passes away and things become new. The change at spring-time can even have an effect on our personal temperament and mood. The darkness and dullness is gone and the cold and frost of winter’s night has been melted by the soft warm rays of the summer’s dawn.
What an object lesson we have here from nature. As Lincoln says, those of us who are taken up with selfish desires and proud optimism need to realise that we “know not what a day may bring forth”. We live in an environment of change, therefore, “Boast not thyself of to morrow”. As we see time change and nature change we need to change too realising that we ought to boast alone in Christ and His cross. In the shifting sands of earth’s seasons are we living for the Saviour or for Self? As one has immortally said, “Only one life, t’will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!”
We learn also that the darkness of our personal winters will pass too. “And this too shall pass away”. This is, indeed, in the words of Lincoln, “Consoling in the hour of affliction”; to know that for the believer God promises better things ahead. What a consolation this is, to know that those of us who, in life’s winter, suffered sickness, pain and sorrow can know that one day it “will come to pass” in the warmth of a heaven sent summer.
Centuries before Lincoln, John the Apostle made a very similar point in 1 John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Even the nature around will pass away but the man or women who does the will of God, will abide forever.
“Big Decision!” – “But A Bigger God!”
Tuesday 8th April 2008
Since announcing our intention to depart from the Iron Hall this May and the intended faith basis of our future ministry, many have understandably remarked: “It’s A Big Decision! A Huge Step!”, and in many respects it is. However I have been continually reminded of the little chorus:
Bigger than all my problems, Bigger than all my fears,
God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see.
Bigger than all my questions, Bigger than anything!
God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see.
However big our decisions may seem, God is GREATER! Indeed our faith is very weak, and yet we are assured that the Lord Jesus will honour even a mustard seed size faith and do great things with it:
And Jesus said unto them...verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20)
As I shared at our recent church Annual General Meeting, our decision is one that we feel the Lord has directed us to over a period of years. Over the last 6 months to a year this has grown to a compelling level that we could no longer in all good conscience ignore. As Paul said to the Ephesian elders, “I go bound in the spirit...” Paul’s future was unknown to him, as ours is to us – “not knowing the things that shall befall me there” (Acts 20:22). We only know that we are to take this first step of faith and the Lord will reveal the rest to us step by step. We only know that we believe that the Lord is calling us to an itinerant ministry of Bible Teaching and Evangelism. We do not know where we will worship, witness or even live and as a family we would value prayer for guidance regarding these issues.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the fact that there are no problems causing me to leave the Iron Hall. We have enjoyed our last 9 years in ministry with the fellowship there and wish to thank them all for their support and prayers. We have been overwhelmed by the expressions of kindness and encouragement since announcing our departure. We assure the congregation at the Iron Hall that they will all always have a special place in our hearts and we love them dearly in our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray the Lord of the Churches will continue to lead, guide and mightily bless the future days of the Iron Hall Assembly.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
Welcome to David's Blog
Monday 7th April 2008
Welcome to this new page at preachtheword.com, a 'blog' or 'weblog' which I hope to use to keep you up-to-date about my ministry, and to make comments from time to time to challenge, encourage and bless you. Please check back regularly, and use the information here and in the preaching schedule on the left to help you pray more informatively.
This May we will embark on a new phase of our ministry, leaving the Iron Hall Assembly and stepping out in faith in a ministry of Bible Teaching and Evangelism. As a family we deeply appreciate your prayers for the future, and for the many decisions that must be made.