Psalm 23:6 ESV
To those who say they don’t experience goodness in their lives, I would be inclined to agree with that on most days.
Life is not easy.
Covid made life difficult but in days gone by people dealt with measles, mumps. And for many diseases we now have vaccines.
That’s a good thing.
My Mother almost died of Scarlet Fever when she was nine years old. I’m really glad she lived and after hearing how horrible Scarlet Fever was I’m glad I never had it.
In today’s world dealing with extreme heat and extreme cold is difficult. Gun violence is on the rise.
In this day and age, even places of worship are not seen as being a sacred place that’s considered off limits to violence. Children, even small children are not even given mercy. Innocent children are being gunned down with everyone else.
Psalm 23:6 tells us, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
So, I wondered where is the goodness? Where is mercy?
Every time another horrible incident happens and I start to get really discouraged, I remind myself to intentionally look for the good. See the mercy. Thankfully, most news crews are helpful. It seems like for every tragedy, we hear about the heroes. Nestled in the crowds there are people who go the extra mile to do good. There are people who choose to be merciful.
For every very bad event, there is good.
In every merciless act, there is great mercy.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.” When we look to God He will help us SEE the good. We can experience mercy.
Time and again in my own life when I have something bad happen and I look to God, I eventually see the good emerge. Sometimes it’s not immediate but God is in the business of bringing goodness from tragedy.
I have a ‘thing’ about biting bugs. It’s not a good thing.
Biting bugs absolutely love me. A swarm of biting gnats will pick me out of a crowd so they can eat me.
I read up on what causes biting bugs to be attracted to some people more than others. The only thing on the list I do is wear dark clothes sometimes and have blood pumping through my veins. Everything I read says while scientists don’t know for sure but they have determined bugs love O+ blood. There you have it. They love my blood.
But, I fix it with mild coating of something to keep bugs ‘off’ of me.
So what’s so good about bugs loving my blood? If all things work together for good…where’s the good? Ultimately, I am reminded that earth is my temporary home and there are no biting bugs in heaven. I do look forward to that!
In the last part of Psalm 23:6, David reminds us of our forever home.
Forever we will dwell in the house of the Lord.
Some of the best descriptions of heaven are found in scripture.
Revelation 21:1-5 tells us, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Notice…no biting bugs.
Revelation 21:21-25 says, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.”
It’s hard to imagine no night…no tears no pain. No biting bugs!
All I know is that I’m all IN for heaven…
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Imagine Heaven
Let yourself imagine what it will be like to dwell with God forever!
In God, Deborah
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