READ: II Corinthians 4:8,16-18
Have you ever taken a baby to the doctor to get a shot? It can be a traumatic experience for both the baby and the parent. You take your twelve month old in. She is so cute and happy and giggling, and life is good. She is the center of attention. Momma and daddy, nurse, doctor, everybody is smiling and making fun faces with her. She is having a blast. Then they pull out this long needle, and they stick it in her arm. She looks as if she has been betrayed. She has this terrible hurt look in her eyes, then she lets loose with a blood-curdling scream. She is looking at you with a look that says, “Daddy, why have you forsaken me? I thought you loved me?” You want to explain it to her, but you can’t. All she can see is the pain and suffering and agony of the moment. But you see the big picture. You know the pain of the shot will not last, and things are going to turn out okay in the end. The shot is not the end of the story. Her pain doesn’t have the last word. Even though she is upset with, you she is holding both hands out for you to grab her and take hold of her. Paul wrote about his sufferings, chronic pain, and persecution, but no matter what he kept holding on to God with both hands. He lived on this side of Easter. He knew there was more to the story. He trusted his future to God. No matter the pain of life’s crosses, don’t ever forget that God has a beautiful future for you. When you trust your life to Jesus Christ you can know He has the last word, and it is going to be okay. No matter what, just keep holding on to God with both hands.
Have you ever taken a baby to the doctor to get a shot? It can be a traumatic experience for both the baby and the parent. You take your twelve month old in. She is so cute and happy and giggling, and life is good. She is the center of attention. Momma and daddy, nurse, doctor, everybody is smiling and making fun faces with her. She is having a blast. Then they pull out this long needle, and they stick it in her arm. She looks as if she has been betrayed. She has this terrible hurt look in her eyes, then she lets loose with a blood-curdling scream. She is looking at you with a look that says, “Daddy, why have you forsaken me? I thought you loved me?” You want to explain it to her, but you can’t. All she can see is the pain and suffering and agony of the moment. But you see the big picture. You know the pain of the shot will not last, and things are going to turn out okay in the end. The shot is not the end of the story. Her pain doesn’t have the last word. Even though she is upset with, you she is holding both hands out for you to grab her and take hold of her. Paul wrote about his sufferings, chronic pain, and persecution, but no matter what he kept holding on to God with both hands. He lived on this side of Easter. He knew there was more to the story. He trusted his future to God. No matter the pain of life’s crosses, don’t ever forget that God has a beautiful future for you. When you trust your life to Jesus Christ you can know He has the last word, and it is going to be okay. No matter what, just keep holding on to God with both hands.
– Dr. Tim Thompson