Like Spilled Water

2 Samuel 14:14 “For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”

When I was young I could be a bit careless, I would tend to focus on the things straight ahead rather than consider my surroundings—I’m afraid my daughter and a granddaughter inherited this trait from me as well. My daughter would unintentionally find a way to tip her water over at the dinner table. Mind you, she was a wonderful little girl to raise, we rarely had to discipline her and when we did, it was very impactful for her (my little granddaughter has also followed in her footsteps, running through things rather than around them.)

I would warn my daughter to be careful, and she would try to be cautious but as children so often do, she began to interact with her brothers, the childishness would soon take over and she would forget about the pitfalls that surrounded her. Soon her vulnerability to trouble became a reality and the process repeated itself.

Psalm 127:3 “Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.”

When I think back on those memories, I’m reminded of how quickly time passes by, how one moment my wife and I are raising 4 kids, dealing with the hectic pace of life, teaching lessons, worrying about our kids development, trying to stay involved in their activities, and then one day they are grown and have families of their own.

I’m Thankful

As I reflect on 2 Samuel, I am also reminded of my heavenly Father and the ways He has taught me lessons in life. His loving correction and teaching were never meant to discourage me or make me feel defeated but He would always have patience with me each step of the way, growing me into the man He desires for me to become. As a young man He guided me in the way I should go, as a Father He taught me how to model godliness (particularly through my wife), and He has patiently endured with me as I became a grandfather and entered new chapters of my life.

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Through all of my failings, the Lord has remained faithful. I’m so thankful the Lord doesn’t change, His Word never changes, it doesn’t shift with the times or changes itself to become relevant to a culture that wants to blur the lines of Righteousness and Truth.

Just as God remains faithful in blessing, He likewise remains faithful in judgement.

The reminder of God’s righteousness is found in His moral law. As a standard that has passed through thousands of generations, cultures, and kingdoms, God’s law remains relevant today. My country is barely 250 years old and yet thinks it has all the answers for how people should live by some counter cultural shift. Redefining gender seems to be a subject that has become mainstream, redefining morality is a subject the world has broached a thousand times over. Regardless of what the world wants, the Lord does not shift nor does His character change; He remains steadfast and His judgements will be fair regardless of which generation it applies to.

Isaiah 31:2 “And yet He is wise and brings disaster; He doesn’t call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity..”

The finality of life seems to approach at a rate accelerated beyond time. Just as my kids seemed to move from adolescence to adulthood far quicker than I thought possible, so life concludes before we know it. In the process of growing and maturing as people of God, God sanctifies His people by bringing correction.

The ways that God corrects are a reflection of His love.

• Through Patient Endurance (2 Peter 3:9)
• By Gentle correction (2 Thess. 3:5)
• In Loving Rebuke (Revelation 3:19)
• Through tribulations (Acts 14:22)
• Warnings from others (Matthew 18:15)
• By His Spirit, through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16)
• Directly into our hearts (1 Cor. 2:10-11)

Life can be a roller coaster of joy one moment then difficult the next, from celebration to heartache the journey of life isn’t for the faint of heart but it is well worth the purpose God designed.

Psalm 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.“

When looking back on life and recounting all that God has brought me through, I am convinced the times of hardship were as critical in life as the moments of joy. I must remember that as a child of God my wise and loving Father will continue to grow me into the man He has purposed. There is a tremendous amount of learning that takes place in life, and while through His Spirit God is continually correcting and leading His people on the path of life He has prepared.

One day, like grass, we will all return to the dust from which we came and the finality of our lives will reach their conclusions.

God’s people must remember their lives have purpose, in the fear of the Lord, and in love for others.

One day God’s people will be united in the presence of the Lord and will be rejoicing in His faithfulness . They will all look back and see how a loving Heavenly Father guided and directed them through the weaknesses and failures and successes, they will then give thanks that He never gave up on them.

Will you be part of this chorus of worship?

The path that God set before His people is truly good. One day the striving will be over and the faithful will have the rest He promised long ago. The curse of sin will be gone, Jesus will reign, and all will know that there was no other way to be saved.

That will be the day….