Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:52:47 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Aug. 24--BP: Jer. 15; RBTTY: I Cor. 7:1-19; Ps. 116-118
August 24 “When All Hope Is Gone”
“. . .her sun has gone down while it was yet day”
Jeremiah 15:9b
The greatest darkness is that which comes when the Son has gone away.
Like those enthralled by magicians with sleight-of-hand, so is our world entranced by the evil one and his wily snares. Like Adam and Eve of old, they look lustfully and longingly upon the devil’s dainties, forgetting that even one bite releases unto them a whole “Pandora’s Box” of suffering and shame.
They hear the preacher’s preaching. They hear the singer’s song. They’ve stood and listened to the hymn of invitation so often they can sing it by heart. But, still they do nothing. They “hear His Voice,” but refuse to draw near. . .further hardening their hearts in the process (Heb. 3:7).
Then, they wonder “Why are all these bad things happening to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” (Jer. 13:22).
And, then they’ll cry with many a hot tear, begging the God of Heaven to hear their cry and free them from their shackles of sin. They’ll bargain with Him, crying “Give me one more chance, dear Lord. I promise to do better. Please, please—I’ll make it up to You!”
But, alas, “her sun has gone down while it was yet day.”
And, oh how great the “horror of that great darkness” (Gen. 15:12b).
Truly, there is no darkness so deep as that which arises from the depths of despair when no light you see. There is no felt-need to seek a light when standing atop an idyllic mountaintop and the sun’s shining brightly overhead.
But, soon the evening’s shadows begin to gather and the sun’s rays begin to fade. And, how horrible the darkness when the setting sun finds you in some deep valley. From the darkness you cry out, but silence is all you hear. Such is always the case when “the sun has gone down while it was yet day.”
Judas knew that great darkness. All the time while serving as treasure of the Apostolic Band, he was “baring the bag” (Jn. 12:6)—stealing from the Master’s treasury and thinking nothing of it. No wonder he was called “the son of Perdition” (Jn. 17:12) and “it’d been better for him if he’d never been born” (Mt. 26:24).
Many there are today who, like Judas, care naught for exchanging God’s glory for the world’s fool’s gold. Although possibly attending church every Sunday. . .singing in the choir. . .even visiting the sick. . .they “draw near to Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him” (Is. 29:13; Mt. 15:8). And, like Judas, the time will come when the thin veneer of their pretension and religiosity will give way to the deep darkness of despair and that inward voice of “Cursed, cursed” (Dt. 27:25; Mt. 27:3-5). Woe to him who forsakes the true “Anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:19)—for the time will come when they will need Him, but He’ll be nowhere to be found (Mt. 7:21-27).
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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