We humans don’t do very well when, as it were, we make our own cocoons and climb in. Some like cocoons because they have the whole place to themselves. We have no need to talk to others. We have no need for outside relationships. Sometimes this withdrawal is caused by some pain or hurt we’ve received, but we soon find that the pain of loneliness is much greater.
We need relationships, friends with whom we can laugh . . . and cry. When we have the courage to break out of the cocoon, our cocoon, and accept the fact that in life we have sorrow and pain as well as the feelings of comfort and well–being, we’ll be able to face the future well.
God is within and surrounding us with His love and care—if we only ask.
The prophet Isaiah reveals a marvelous promise from the Heavenly Father to those facing difficulties in life and feeling perhaps that they should withdraw into a cocoon. “Fear not, [God promises], for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God” (Isaiah 43:1b–3a).
We have the promises of God. Trust Him. Don’t bother about cocoons.
Self–Made
March 06
In an interview of a rather notable person, published in the papers some years ago, the reporter stated: “I understand, sir, that you are a self–made man.”
“Well,” was the rather slow response, “I suppose I might be called a self–made man.” And he paused, then added somewhat ruefully: “But if I had it to do over again, I think I’d call in a little help.”
We live in the kind of world where self–made people are greatly admired. Starting with very little and often under difficult conditions, they have accomplished a great deal in the world’s eyes. That’s the secular world, and the attainments are great wealth, great position, and great power. These things alone never quite spell peace and contentment. As life nears its conclusion, these attainments become increasingly meaningless.
That’s why Jesus’ conversation with his apostles about the vine and the branches is so very significant. The setting was just before the crucifixion. Following the Last Supper in a Jerusalem upper room, the eleven (Judas had slipped away to commit his terrible act of betrayal) met to talk with Jesus in His final, solemn hours.
“I am the vine;” Jesus said, “You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). No self–made persons there. The wonder of it all is that we are not self–made but God–made . . . the One who made us in creation is the One who makes us in re-creation—new birth, if you like.
Like the branch in the vine or in the tree, as long as we remain attached to our Master, we will grow, be successful, and produce much fruit—God–made men and women.
Dreams . . . and God
March 07
What sort of dreams do you have? Perhaps you don’t dream at all . . . or not very often. Most of us, I believe, have quite a few dreams, and sometimes they are very odd.
In Old Testament times, God used dreams many times for sending His messages to people. In the New Testament, however, this method of reaching people came almost to a halt. Joseph, in a dream, was told of the coming of the Christ child and directed to take Mary as his wife. Joseph was also told to flee to Egypt after Jesus’ birth in order to escape the wrath of King Herod. He was later told by a dream when to return to his homeland and by another to go to live in Nazareth.
When Jesus was on trial for His life before Pontius Pilate, Pilate’s wife sent a message to her husband: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him” (Matthew 27:19). And except for one repetition of a prophecy of the Old Testament concerning dreams, that’s all there is about dreams in the New Testament.
There were, of course, visions, and I believe the main difference between the two is that visions still contain a direct word from God, whereas God seems to have discontinued using ordinary dreams as a means of carrying His message. His Holy Spirit, sent on the day of Pentecost, now speaks to individuals. Indeed, the Holy Spirit of God and God’s Word, the Bible, as well as prayer, are our sources of spiritual life, although I cannot completely rule out the possibility of God’s using a dream or a vision in our day.
Sometimes we are fearful of our dreams. Perhaps we have nightmares. Our fears about dreams or nightmares can become less powerful, less fearsome, when we discover that we share them with quite a few other people. In addition, they become much less troublesome when we share them with our Heavenly Father. Our greatest assurance is that we cannot drift beyond the Heavenly Father’s love and care. He will listen to our fears always and at any time.
Many ages ago, God spoke directly to Isaac, and His promise still stands: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you.”
A Quiet and Holy People
March 08
Cyprian of Carthage, North Africa, became a martyr for his faith under the Roman Emperor Valerian in 285 AD. Among his many writings was a simple letter to his friend, Donatus, and although written many centuries ago, it really speaks to our times.
This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden, under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked over the wide lands, you know very well what I would see—brigands on the high roads; pirates on the seas; in the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds; under all roofs misery and selfishness. It is really a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. Yet in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasures of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians—and I am one of them.”3
Some things are just as bad . . . some worse since that writing. There are still brigands on our highways, and we still read of pirates on the seas. I don’t know of any amphitheaters where men are murdered to please applauding crowds, but we do have cruel mayhem in the wrestling ring and in the bullring for the same purpose. There are certainly many murders in our modern world. Under many roofs, there is misery and selfishness. We have a veneer of sophistication that was lacking in those early centuries, but human nature has not really changed that much. We have learned a host of new ways to gain the pleasures of this sinful life.
Yet in the midst of these troubling times, there continues to be a quiet and holy people who “have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They have overcome the world.”
Jesus Himself showed the way. In forty days of desperate temptation at the outset of His ministry, He was offered, among other temptations, “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Matthew 4:8). He was offered this if He would bow down before the Evil One, but He refused. And He led and taught His little handful of quiet and holy people.
As Cyprian wrote so long ago: “These people, Donatus, are the Christians—and I am one of them.” May that be our testimony too.
My Brother
March 09
A church member was driving his pastor along a busy freeway when they came upon an accident scene. A car was overturned on the