Monday, November 10, 2014

The Juniper Tree

Recent times for many of us have been very difficult; in fact, I have talked to several individuals who wish that there was a fast forward button if which they could press and jump straight into the new year, ushering in the new year before this one has even been completed, while others still have often wondered is death not better than life?. Why is this, does not this year still have more to offer? Is death not actually better than life? Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, that he too felt that those who had passed on, or those who had never lived where in some way better off because they were not forced to endure the vanity and nonsense of this world. (Ecc.4:1-4) Now, is it wrong to feel this way, or is it a natural part of life? Is it fear and pain that cause us to feel this way, and if so, what should we do about it? These are indeed great questions, and for the answers, let us go into the Word of God...
 
In the book of I Kings, chapter nineteen, Elijah, a prophet of the Lord, was in fear for his life after receiving a message from Jezebel; therefore, he fled for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness. (I King 19:1-4) After arriving in the wilderness, Elijah found solace in the shadows of a juniper tree after which he prayed unto God the Father saying "O' Lord, I am not better than my (earthly) fathers," and he God asked to take his life. Now, we can clearly see that in very tough situations, it is almost a natural impulse for us to feel that death is a viable solution, even I, during the early days of the physical ailment which had attacked my body, felt as if death would be a much better alternative than feeling the intense pain and loss of mobility that I was feeling at that time; however, God always has provision for us during these times, we must simply wait patiently, seek His face, and move when He instructs us to do so...
 
I Kings 19:5-8
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb (Mt. Sinai) the mount of God...
 
As we can see, when the story began, Elijah was under severe pressure, threats had been made on his life, he was afraid, rushing through the wilderness, lacking physical substance and spiritual strength; however, God made a way. As the story unfolds, we can see that God did not leave his prophet and servant alone, He indeed made a way for Elijah to survive in the wilderness and He protected Him from those who sought to take His life. Just as God sent His angel to Elijah and just as He provided for the physical needs of food and water needed to survive, and just as God provided the spiritual guidance Elijah needed to recover and be strengthened in his time of weakness, God will do the same for us today, He has done it, and continues to do it, for me, and He will do it for you as well...
 
While I was in the hospital, seemingly strapped to that hospital bed for months, only arising with the assistance of others to wobble to the "facilities," or to endure the agonizing pain of physical therapy, I learned to recognize, appreciate, and invite the presence of God and His Angels. Spending five months in the hospital can be very difficult for anyone; however, it was much more agonizing for me as I had grown accustomed to my life of going, going, and gone, I was always on the move, if i was not at church, I was at a Bible study, an outreach, or some other adventure, yet now, all I had was pain and time...
 
During this season of both pain and time, I learned that the only way to to defeat the pain was with joy, but not just any joy, but the Joy of the Lord, for the Joy of the Lord is my strength. During this season, I learned that there are many plains or levels of intimacy with God, and it is only by seeking His face early, often, and with reverence will we reach the ultimate level of loosing our own identity in the identity of Christ Himself. You see, through the pain, the suffering, the cries of pain and sorrow, and the thoughts of death, I found myself in a spot in which there were no other alternatives than to wrap myself in the loving arms of the one who had created me, and so I did that, and now I truly know the love of God, and there is no better place to be, there is no better feeling, I am in  Christ, and Christ is in me, I am His and He is mine... Those thoughts of death have been replaced with a desire to live and share God's Love with everyone around me, and of course, that includes you my friend... May God Bless you all, and when you find yourself in that dark space, perhaps you should take a moment and find rest under the Juniper Tree... Amen...