The Lower Lights - March 2003

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THE

LOWER

LIGHTS

Alan Jones, Editor

(734) 942-7956

"Brightly beams our Father's mercy

From the lighthouse evermore;

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the light along the shore."

Published monthly by the church of Christ, 35900 Palmer Road, P.O. Box 86-233, Westland, MI 48166

Volume 2 March 2003 No9

IS IT WORTH IT TO SERVE GOD?

Full width / PDF printable version

The Brown family serves God every day. Mr. and Mrs. Brown live godly and have an excellent reputation in the community. They have been faithful to their marriage vows for 20 years. Every Sunday morning, without fail, the Brown family can be seen, Bibles in hand, getting into their car to go to church.

The Greens, who are neighbors of the Browns, live day to day without thought of God. The present "Mrs. Green" is Mr. Green’s fourth wife in 20 years as he easily forgets his vows when he finds someone "younger and prettier". The neighbors all know that Mr. and Mrs. Green spend every Saturday night at bars and swingers’ clubs. On Sundays, they get up late, eat brunch and read the paper.

The Browns live in a small ranch house, while the Greens live in a spacious two story house. The Browns drive an old Chevy Impala. The Greens cruise through the neighborhood in a new Rolls Royce. Mr. Brown works at a machine shop. Mr. Green is president of the local bank. The Browns struggle to pay their children’s frequent hospital bills. The Green’s children are exceptionally healthy.

The Browns wonder, "If godliness pays, why do the wicked prosper?" The Greens ask, "We are getting along better than those who are Christians. Why do we need God?" Let’s turn to Psalms 73 to answer their questions.

A Waste of Time?

Asaph was a man wholly devoted to God. David appointed him to be the chief of the musicians who played before the ark of God (1 Chron. 16:5,7,37). Not only did Asaph play music, but as a prophet, he wrote inspired songs (2 Chron 29:30; see Psalms 50, 73-83). However, this righteous man almost slipped away from God. Psalms 73 records his mental anguish as he viewed the world around him. His understanding of God was that He was good to the pure in heart (vs. 1). But, he observed the wicked prospering and he wondered if this was really true.

It seemed to Asaph that the wicked did not have the problems of the righteous. Since they were not plagued, they just sinned more. They even defied God, saying, "How does God know what we are doing?" All the while, it appeared to Asaph that they "have more than heart could wish." (vs. 4-12)

As Asaph meditated on what he saw, he had serious doubts about where his godly life was getting him. He thought, "If the wicked prosper, righteousness is a waste of time. Why am I keeping my heart pure and my hands clean? Why am I restricting myself by God’s laws? My devotion to God is all in vain." (vs. 13-14).

It Is Good to Draw Near

After painfully wresting with his doubts for some time, Asaph finally discovered the answer to his problem. He was troubled until he came into the sanctuary of God (vs. 16-17). He finally realized that life must be viewed from the standpoint of God and eternity rather than the standpoint of man and time.

When Asaph went to the sanctuary of God and looked at the wicked through God’s eyes, he saw a far different scene. Through human eyes, the prosperity of the wicked seemed endless. But, their prosperity only lasted for a blink of an eye in the sight of an eternal God.

Those with no regard for God live on "slippery places" with one foot in hell and the other on a banana peel. They are ready to be cast down to destruction and become a desolation in a moment. It is as if the Lord is taking a short nap. When He "wakes up" the wicked will receive their just desserts (vs. 18-20).

Once Asaph saw life from God’s perspective, he was grieved that he had ever doubted the value of serving God. He realized the great blessings that come from serving God-guidance in this life and then glory in the one to come. He asked, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth." God was his strength and his portion (vs. 21-27).

Through the resolving of his doubts, Asaph’s faith became stronger. He ended his psalm by reaffirming the truth that he understood before he wavered, "It is good for me to draw near to God." (vs 28)

Living Like the Browns or the Greens?

Unfortunately, in our land of abundant blessings, more and more families are living like the Greens. Is your family one of them? Do you have any regard for his moral law? Do you set aside any time to study His Word and worship Him? Or are you deceived by your material prosperity, thinking all is well, feeling no need for God, satisfied with life without Him? You may think that you are prospering without God. But, your brief pleasure here will be but a dim memory in an eternal hell.

You need to live like the Browns. You need to live the life of a Christian. Your life may be full of problems. But, even so, the guidance God will give you through His Word will make your life happier than you’ve ever dreamed. And then afterward, God will receive you into glory. Believe it, my friend, God will reward those who seek Him (Heb 11:6). Won’t you and your family draw near to God?