REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 15, 2014.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“My Heart is Restless Until It Finds Its Rest in Thee” (St. Augustine)
Isaiah 40:30
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.”
Concealing facial expression on the football field is relatively easy since a player’s helmet covers the head, and the face mask and protective shield mask the face. Brian Hiemer certain hid himself well while playing tight-end for the University of Nebraska when they were No. 1 in the nation many years ago. After being cut in his freshman season, he not only made the team but became a starter in his junior year when he led the team with four touchdown receptions. He even carried a 3.3 G.P.A. So it was shocking to everyone when he committed suicide at the tender of age of 21.
Hiemer’s suicide was baffling on two ends: first, as a young man, he should have been full of dreams and hope. Unfortunately, his short life proved the truthfulness of Isa. 40:30: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.” Second, people like him are not supposed to do that. A friend wondered, “You look for something, a warning. May be there was a reason, but Brian didn’t tell us.” But he did confide to a friend, “People made too much of [me] being on a No. 1 team in the number 1 position.” Evidently, no outward success was able to erase the emptiness that lingered inside.
Ultimately, the trouble with us is that no fountain of youth or success is adequate to recover the peace that was forever lost through sin, thereby pitting God and men as natural enemies. Trying to do so is like attempting to fit a square handle into a round hole. The peace deal between them was brokered by Jesus Christ who, through his substitionary death on our behalf, “fully met the righteous requirements of the law” (Rom. 8:4). Consequently, God is no longer indignant at those who are in Christ because what was completed on the Cross thoroughly and permanently satisfied God’s justice. Subsequently, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
I don’t like being in a hostile situation with my wife caused by an argument. There is no peace. I can wash dishes or take out the trash to make up for it, but they mean very little apart from a simple admission: “I’m sorry; it was my fault; will you forgive me?” Jesus, as our advocate, did that for us and God has accepted his plea. Truly, “my heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”
Of course, the recent suicide by Rick Warren’s son reminds us that Christians are not immune from despondency. Suffice it to say for now, Jesus brings us back to God, and then helps us to manage and cope with the pain that is bound to arise in our fragile earthly existence. Turn to Jesus for a way back to God today. Turn to Christ for comfort and encouragement.
Prayer: Lord, may Your failing love rest on me as I put my trust in You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Titus 1-2