comfort | Revelations From The Road

View From The Top

June 28, 2012 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 28, 2012

Recently my wife and I spent some time in Shenzhen China, next to Hong Kong, visiting our two younger sons who are business partners there. It is a very different world. The architecture in this modern city of 13 million is unique, the people, of course, have different customs and place importance on different things. There are many American and western people here and most public places have people who speak some English and the signs have two languages, one we can read. We’re a long way from home, (a 17 hour plane flight), but I was reminded this day of a reality.

As I looked out from our 24th-story Four Points Sheraton hotel room across the Shenzhen river to the mountains in the distance, I realized that, although we are in a different part of the world and twelve hours ahead of Eastern Daylight time, God made those mountains just like He made the mountains in which we live in Virginia. He made the people here and He loves them all. Although the big city, people, and culture are very different here and unfamiliar to us, they are not unfamiliar to God. He is here just like He is in the mountains of Virginia. He is here with me just as He is where ever I go. And although I have difficulty communicating with the people here and using my various communication devices in this distant land, I can talk to Him just as easily as I can at home. King David said, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:8-10). God will be with me wherever I go, (Hebrews 13:5), but He will stay nearby unless I ask Him to be right there with me. “Lord, be with me, stay close so we can talk, lead me away from temptation and deliver me from evil.” That’s what I say. God is always as close as our voice will spiritually carry. Even our whisper will brig Him near.

In this far away land, that is a comfort to me.

Show Your Fruit

November 8, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given November 8, 2008

As I went out and about running errands for my wife this morning, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I was a representative of God. And, as His rep, I was to conduct myself in such a way as to make the boss look good. If I was rude to the associate at the cell phone store, (like the lady next to me was), it would be a bad witness for Christians as many people know I am one. But, how do people know we are Christians without us wearing a sign? ( Here’s Your Sign). I submit we must show our fruit.

Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8. Notice Jesus said, “showing yourselves to be my disciples”. So, if we’re bearing fruit, it should show, we shouldn’t hide it. Now, you know there are Christians who have a lot of leaves but upon closer scrutiny, you find no fruit.

Remember the story of the poor old fig tree? I used to feel sorry for that tree but Jesus wanted us to learn a lesson here. “Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered” Matthew 21: 18-19. From a distance, (in the church pew, etc.), that tree looked good but when Jesus examined it more closely, He found it lacking. When He put it to the snack test, when He made demands on it to perform as it was created, it failed. And what happened to it? Jesus spoke to it and it withered, leaves and all!

Jesus won’t wither us when we fail to perform as we were created. He shows us mercy and grace. If you have compromised your faith recently, hidden your fruit, or haven’t even taken care of your roots, repent and let God prune you, (ouch!), so your fruit will flourish and people will see that you are one of His.

The Light

November 6, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 16, 2008

While visiting son #3 in Shenzhen, China, I was lounging on his couch after a long day of sight-seeing and great Chinese food. Just before falling into snooze land, I was thinking about my retirement job in workforce development and the students we have working to obtain their G.E.D.

I saw a G.E.D. guy standing at the mouth of a dark tunnel. Maybe he could see a small light at the other end but it was a long way off. Where he stands is the beginning. As he begins his journey toward the light, he may lose sight of the it momentarily and may be encouraged to turn back. It reminded me that when we lose sight of the light, that’s when we need to depend on God and keep going. The enemy will do all he can to make you turn back. Don’t do it!

David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Psalm 23:4“. The key here is to keep walking. In order for there to be a shadow, there must be a light. “For thou art with me.” The light of the world is with you. Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, keep your eyes on the light and when the shadows creep in, go on auto-pilot and depend on God to lead you. You’ll make it to the end and realize the full power of…the Light!

Total Trust

October 26, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October14, 2008

On day two of our recent trip to China to visit our son, we ventured out into the streets of Hong Kong with our tour-guide son to eat and see the sights. We had previously had his help in navigating the trip from the airport and we felt confident in his hands. As we hailed taxis, ordered meals, dealt with store clerks, and followed his lead in the city, I realized something profound. In that strange city and culture, my wife and I were almost totally dependent on our son to survive. We were definitely out of our comfort zone and we felt it.

A question came up inside me, “Could you depend on Me in this situation to get you through?” It floored me! I considered myself to be one who trusted God for everything but I had to answer, “I don’t know, Lord.” I realized I wasn’t as far up the trust ladder as I thought I was. I know God was with me, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5, but I just wasn’t ready to put my total trust on Him that day. Am I a bad person for that?

But then as I repented and asked forgiveness, I thanked God for providing my son to help us in this situation. Then it hit me; God sent His son to show us all how to survive in any situation and part of that was letting my boy fill in while we were here in China. What a great God! “Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 (God’s Word Translation).

You know, in the United States, in our home towns, we are in our comfort zone and it’s easy to trust God. But sometimes, even here, we get in an uncomfortable place and God wants us to trust Him for deliverance. Being in China made me appreciate God’s love. I have moved up a rung on the trust ladder.

The Big Picture

October 19, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 13, 2008

This is the first post from a trip my wife and I took to Senzhen, China to visit our third son who lives and works there. Flying out of Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson airport, as were climbing to cruising altitude, I noticed the beautiful mountains and land of East Tennessee below. You could see a lot! It made me realize how much I could see compared to someone on the ground. From my perspective, I could see so much more than a guy standing at the base of one of those mountains. If it was cloudy over his head, I could see that the clouds broke jus a few miles away. I could say, “Wait awhile, it’ll clear up soon.” He may be dejected that he was under a cloud of despair. It was my location and perspective that made the difference.

We, as humans, down low on the earth, are very limited as to what we can actually see. We have to trust and rely on someone who is much higher than we are who sees the big picture. That’s God. He sees it all and, if we trust Him to guide us, we will make it through. Even though what we see may look impossible, God sees it from a higher perspective and knows what we should do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.“We must not “lean on our own understanding” but trust the all-seeing God to guide us.

God has told us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9“.

Trust Him, He sees it all.