Sunrise ...the Wayfarer 12/27/16
Sunrise
James 5:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh.
Once again we approach the end of an
old year's winter, and the beginning of a new spring, one, come what may, to be approached by some
with fear and trepidation, others with hope... some with plans and
resolutions, some without either plan or resolution to guide the days yet to
come.
It is a time of continuing the
celebration of what has either blessed us during the old year, in hope of
further blessing through the one to come, or, perhaps, celebration of what has been
survived, the continued survival of difficulty expected.
Either way, blessings have been
given, difficulty has been survived, further blessings await all willing to receive
them as such, and difficulty will be faced.
Choices have been made in the past
that led to both blessing and difficulty, and choices are faced once more that
cannot but lead to one of the two destinations at which to be arrived.
Neither destination is reached
without choice of direction to be taken, both directions filled with side roads, wandering detours filled with distraction that affect choice, and, if
allowed, alter that choice and its resulting destination.
Focus, once clear, is distorted,
unless maintained as a constant.
From a distance, the top of the mountain
may easily be seen in its beauty with the azure sky as its backdrop, and the
sunrise is seen in all its beauty, certain to be even more beautiful if seen
from the summit, lighting the world below, granting a view of creation that is
far wider than that seen from below.
As that mountain is approached, much
changes the focus of what is seen, the crest becoming invisible as forests are
blocked by views of single trees so much closer, as the steeps to be
traversed require temporary focus on obstacles to be negotiated to arrive
at that crest… Yet the crest remains constant, available as destination despite invisibility while negotiating those obstacles along the way.
If the goal is to reach that crest,
focus must ever be placed on the arrival at that crest, rather than on the obstacles
placed along the way. Those obstacles are only challenges to be overcome as
ways around those obstacles present themselves with diligent focus on the crest
itself as destination…choices must be made, to continue the ascent, to
negotiate the obstacles, or to surrender to the obstacle and return to the
depths of the valley never to reach that sought after goal of the crest.
The diligent choose to continue the
ascent.
Romans 8:28-31
King James Version (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us?
It is critical that we remember that
if we choose that ascent, rather than descent, that we are not alone in our
efforts as obstacles are faced, that the means of their negotiation have
already been provided long before we even recognize them along the way.
As we face each new challenge, as
each is overcome and replaced with yet another, it may seem that our struggles
are in vain and to no effect, the result of focus having been misplaced,
directed toward obstacle rather than toward destination. Here too assurance
should be taken in the certainty of destination despite challenge or obstacle.
1 Corinthians 15:58
King James Version (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not
in vain in the Lord.
The beauty of the sunrise to come is
worthy of the climb to the climber negotiating the treacherous obstacles along
the way to the summit, as that sunrise was promised long ago through the Son rise
on the day of His resurrection, and what was done to provide for us the certainty
of that sunrise on a new day that we should eagerly anticipate in expectation
of what is to come along with that sunrise.
There are no storms that may negate
the coming of that sunrise, no obstacles that may obscure its visibility for
those willing to continue the ascent to the summit rather than surrender the
goal of that ascent.
The map to the top has been drawn
clearly, assistance is a prayer away, the goal that needs to be most sought clearly defined.
The Father waits lovingly for those
ascending.
John 14:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Each new year, and, each new day,
draws us closer to the destination chosen.
Each also draws us closer to the
sunrise on a day that holds the final sunrise, one on which the sun never sets.
It is with joy I anticipate that day,
even in knowledge of the night that precedes it.
I choose to have no fear of that
night, certain of the sunrise.
Choice of the sunrise will always preclude the fear of the night; choice of the surety of the promise will always make the journey worth the ardors of the short time spent in that journey once the eternity of the destination has been reached.
Remind all along the path followed that there is but One Way, Truth and Life that allows us to reach that destination, and that His name is JESUS!
Remind all that it is His blood, His suffering on the cross, His resurrection providing the means to that most desired destination, without which there would remain only decent rather than ascent.
It is HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS love alone that assures the promise of our own arrival to HIS presence and an eternity of joy spent returning that Love given by the Father.
Remind all that no matter how dark and treacherous the night may seem, how difficult the path may be, He can and will carry us through to the sunrise.
Choice of the sunrise will always preclude the fear of the night; choice of the surety of the promise will always make the journey worth the ardors of the short time spent in that journey once the eternity of the destination has been reached.
Remind all along the path followed that there is but One Way, Truth and Life that allows us to reach that destination, and that His name is JESUS!
Remind all that it is His blood, His suffering on the cross, His resurrection providing the means to that most desired destination, without which there would remain only decent rather than ascent.
It is HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS love alone that assures the promise of our own arrival to HIS presence and an eternity of joy spent returning that Love given by the Father.
Remind all that no matter how dark and treacherous the night may seem, how difficult the path may be, He can and will carry us through to the sunrise.
Revelation 22:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
2 Timothy 1:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
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