The physician stared into the camera and said, "It's going to happen!" The story was about Bird Flu, the much talked about virus, that many researchers think will soon leap the barrier from birds to humans. Many doctors fear devastating death tolls! On ABC News, one doctor said he thought as many as 50% of humans could die! Now that's apocalyptic. Most don't put death rates that high, but many physicians do think that infants, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses could be at high risk IF the Bird Flu infects people.
Pondering the risks of living can be depressing. It can make you want to die. (Not really, but you understand what I mean, right?) Something all of us everyday puts us at greatest risk of injury or death. Yep, I'm talking about driving your car! Across these United States more than 100 people will die today in traffic accidents and thousands more will be injured, many seriously. Aneurysms, tumors, and metabolic disorders - are ticking away inside of many of our bodies at this moment. Pressure is building on fault lines deep beneath the earth's crust. When they snap, tsunamis and earthquakes will wipe out towns. Are you scared yet or should I keep going?
My point is that life is unpredictable. No matter how much we prepare, regardless of just how much caution we exercise, danger remains with us. That's one reason I am glad to be a Christian! Faith in Christ is not a guarantee that only good things will happen to me or to my family. That's foolish superstition. But, with faith in Christ, I know that my hand is held by the Father's hand, and faith teaches me that He knows how to guide me through or even around the challenges that are ahead of me on my road.
The grand cynic of the Scripture, the writer of Ecclesiastes, puts to words what many people think. "It's all emptiness," he moans. "Why get up in the morning? You work hard then you die and somebody else spends your fortune! You think that keeping the rules and being good will get you ahead in life and then the crook drives up in his Hummer, wearing diamonds." - Eccl. 6:12, 8:14 (not exactly his words, but a loose paraphrase) But, he doesn't remain in that place of despair. After pointing out the vanity of a life without God, near the end of his book Solomon sums up the best way to live in a world full of uncertainty, in circumstances that can produce hopelessness. "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NIV)
Why? Not so that He will reward us with a trouble free life, but rather so that we will live with meaning despite the uncertainties of our existence.
The New Testament adds a clearer understanding of the promise of eternal life, too. There we are reminded that what we experience NOW, isn't the end of the matters of life. "... in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died. ... Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’ Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God." (Romans 14:8-12, NLT)
Yes, life is unpredictable. Trouble comes one day, success another! But, the person who walks with God remains faithful through it all because her goal and purpose isn't just to make it through the day. Rather, she purposes to please the Eternal Father, to patiently endure the trials and to keep her head in success, knowing that when the game is over, the real life for which God created her will have just begun.
Set your hope in eternity. Live joyfully, confidently, faithfully, fearlessly - because you know who holds tomorrow and who holds your hand!
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"When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun;
We've no less days,
to sing His praise,
than when we first begun!"
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