A Blink Away
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"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Gal. 6:9 (ESV)
Today, Lord willing, marks my 45th wedding anniversary to my soulmate. That day seems only a blink of an eye away. Blink twice. Two children. Blink again. Our parents are gone. Blink. We have a teen-aged grandchild? Blink. We both have gray hair!
While this remarkable Christian man made our marriage easy, we have seen our share of sorrows. Two children lost to miscarriages. My health, plagued by chronic illnesses, multiple injuries, and surgeries. Caring for four elderly family members at the end of their lives as we muddled through jobs and raising our kids.
By faith in God, we pushed through. One step in front of the other, looking ahead at the Cross and not to the sides. In our culture of frequent divorce, we often get stunned reactions when strangers ask how did we make a marriage last this long, like we are extra-terrestrials. Our answer?
Perseverance.
It’s not just self-will. Perseverance involves faith in God's promises. The Greek term, hupomone, means to bear up under a heavy load. Think of an ancient servant, loaded down, carrying his master’s armor. Bent over, struggling along a bad road, he still whistles happily, knowing he will be rewarded for doing a good job. That’s the attitude we should have towards suffering. It’s not easy with chronic pain, or dealing with difficult people, or severe grief.
The blink of an eye puts it all into perspective, though. While we were still newlyweds, a drunk driver plowed into Dave’s car and totaled it. Dave's head broke the windshield, and he needed stitches. (Bad about wearing his seatbelt, he has worn it ever since.)
Jesus promises He will return in the blink of an eye.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52 (NIV)
Have you suffered yet persevered? Are you ready to meet Jesus? He is truly only a blink away.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Make a list of your greatest sorrows. Can you see where God intervened or led you?
2. Why do you think "bad things happen to good people"?
3. How can you answer when others ask that question?
