It’s Friday…Ever Constant, Utterly Devoted, and Always True

The catastrophic effects and images of Hurricane Ian continue to remind the residents of the beautiful state of Florida, that it came through it, literally. As you know, Ian entered on the west coast of the Florida peninsula and exited on the east coast of the Atlantic, almost directly above my home. It was nerve-wracking to say the least.

It also reminded me of a devastating scene. Jerusalem – the city of God, the seat of His temple, the center of the world’s priestly nation – had been sacked. It was totally destroyed. Walls had fallen, thousands had been killed or taken captive, and the temple had been toppled. It seemed the chosen people had been chosen for catastrophe. The world’s link between heaven and earth had been broken.

The Book of Lamentations is just what its name implies – a lament.  It is an outpouring of grief by the prophet Jeremiah over the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. It is a cry of anguish rising up from the rubble. And yet right in the middle of it we read this astounding declaration:

“ Because of The Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Despite circumstantial evidence to the contrary, God was faithful to Israel. Despite the fact that this devastating destruction would cause the ultimate crisis of faith – a chosen people questioning their chosenness – Jeremiah saw something greater than the circumstances of despair. He saw the faithfulness of God. That just doesn’t compare to anything our eyes can see, no matter how bleak life appears.

Jeremiah’s understanding of God’s faithfulness is the understanding God longs for each of us to have. When life is falling apart – when a marriage fails, when a loved one suffers with a fatal disease, when bankruptcy is imminent, when a hurricane causes massive destruction, when the valley of the shadow of death is before us – God is faithful. We may not be able to figure out exactly how He will be faithful to us, but we know He will. Why? Because He said so. And the faithful always keep their promises.

God’s faithfulness is hard to grasp because God is vastly different than we’re able to imagine. He isn’t fickle like even the best people we know. He doesn’t change His mind in the same sense human beings do. He doesn’t ride the waves of cultural trends and popularity polls. He is faithful – Ever Constant, Utterly Devoted, and Always True. Let’s do ourselves a favor and rely on Him.

Have a promising weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who are first-hand witnesses of how He has come through for them, again, and again, and again.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)