Lifestyles of the Rich – Addendum

We ARE the Rich!

Friday morning I was feeling discouraged and overwhelmed with the burden of running Grenada Family Network. I went for a walk at 6:45 and spent much of the time complaining to God and reviewing in my mind all the things that have gone wrong. Why, I wondered, doesn’t God provide for our needs the way He provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness? Instead of renting a studio all these years, He could have just given us one and saved us over $75 thousand dollars. It seems He must wait on a lukewarm, and unconverted church to wake up and do the work He has commanded us to do!

I came home and knelt down to pray, and God began to answer my complaining by bringing to memory the large and small miracles I see nearly every week, but often take for granted.

“Don’t you remember your tower rental account?” came the gentle reminder. “The past due amount got paid, and then the cell phone company skipped two month’s charges, and issue a bill with a credit. How did that happen?”

“I don’t know Lord, but you did do something amazing there.”

(Here’s how it looked on the ledger.

• October 28: Account canceled.*
• October bill: $8,765 ECD (3 months, paid in full).
• November: No bill.
• December: No bill.
• December 28: Account reinstated.
• January bill: $-1,155 ECD credit.

* I didn’t even know the account was canceled. I had to go in and ask why we hadn’t received a bill for 2 months. The whole time we continued to broadcast without interruption.)

The Holy Spirit continued, “And don’t you remember last summer being 3 months behind on rent on two different properties? How did that amount get paid?”

“I don’t know that either Lord”, I had to admit. Almost all of that money came from local donations, which is another miracle considering the large amount.

Then God said, “Remember what I told you here? ‘We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.’” {CET 204.1}

“What about last week when I kept the windshield of the van from shattering when something hit it with such force that it left a scrape on the glass and sounded like a balloon popping inside the car?”

I had no more complaining to do, but Jesus still wasn’t done encouraging me. As has happened so often, He spoke to me through GFN radio. In the kitchen this song came on the radio.

(Verse 1)

When life’s burdens get so heavy, and it seems I’m all alone

I cast my care on Jesus , and come boldly to His throne

I find His grace sufficient when His promises I heed

For His very life He sacrificed, and He lives to intercede

(Chorus)

He is the Lord of Lords, and when He speaks Winds and waves obey

When Jesus whispers “Peace be still” The darkness turns to day

And as I’m trusting in my Savior’s Word Doubts and fears all cease

And beneath the shelter of His wings, I’m at rest in perfect peace

(Verse 2)

I will seek for souls in darkness, Calvary’s love with them to share

Empowered by His Spirit, I will follow anywhere

For I know what-e’er befall me, my Lord is in control

And as my mind is stayed on Him, perfect peace He gives my soul!

 

As I continued to think about God’s faithfulness, my negative feelings completely gave way to thankfulness and hope.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God.

In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country.” Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.

“My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” “They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: … Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 32:18; 60:18; 65:21, 22.

There, “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; … and a little child shall lead them.” “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” saith the Lord. Isaiah 35:1; 55:13; 11:6, 9….

Darkness Before Dawn, p 61

Friends, may you live in the reality of the hope that only Jesus can give, today and every day.

Steve