Vicissitudes

Luke 12:6

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” 

Luke 12:7

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” 

Change is constant. We live through the vicissitudes of the seasons. Through the passage of time, is either growth or death, and changes. Most of the former ubiquitous part of everyday life has changed or is gone: people, things, places, the old-fashioned godly traditions.The once sharp and spirited mind has slowed down. The once restless and passionate heart has mellowed out. The once vigorously healthy and active body has grown weary. All that is left now is the memory of a quiet, simple, slow-moving phase of the olden years.

Yet today is the appointed day of salvation -- that irresistible grace of election and justification that was there even before the beginning of time. The omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God has willed every bit of every movement and every passage and every vicissitude of everything underneath and above the earth. It was not a meaningless, futile, miserable, and an empty existence after all. Through this wilderness, this valley of tears, glorious eternity for His jewels awaits, His jewels whom He picked up from the mire and washed clean with the precious blood of His own Son Jesus Christ.

“Oh! thus pillowing your head on the Immutability of God, amid the crude buffetings of a changing world, you will be able to say — until the dawn of the morning breaks on you, which knows neither night nor vicissitude, ‘I will both lie down and sleep in peace,  for You alone, O Lord, make me live in safety!’ (Psalm 4:8)” ~ John MacDuff"

“O my Father, let me feel, even amid the troublous changes of life, that what I am apt to call painful vicissitudes — are the sovereign degrees and allotments of your infinite wisdom!” ~John MacDuff

"Who can forecast the varying scenes of changeful life? It is like walking up some sequestered dell; every turn in the path presents something new. A cluster of flowers here--a rotten branch or decaying tree there; now a flowing stream--now a quiet pool--
now a sprawling cascade; now a gleam of sunlight, now the driving rain and booming thunder. 
But each apparently capricious turn in life's way, all its accidents and incidents, are the 
appointments of Infinite Wisdom! 
The future with all its vicissitudes, is in His keeping and ordering. You may work the loom--the shuttle may be in your hands--but the pattern is all His--the intermingling threads of varied hue, even what are dark and somber. Do not talk of a tangled web, 
when it is that of the Great Craftsman!" ~John MacDuff


“It is a practical impression of this unseen hand moving in all that happens to the believer, administering the cup of joy and of affliction, and all for his ultimate good, that throws over the soul a quiet confidence, and enables it in "every situation to be content.

The Scriptures teach that the bird that folds its wing and falls to the earth, or that is arrested by the archer's arrow and drops bleeding to the ground, is directed in its fall by the hand of God. Yes, even the hairs of our head, insignificant as they may singly seem, are still noticed and numbered by the Almighty. Not a step that we take, nor a purpose that we accomplish, do we take or accomplish independent of him.
This is the view that brings God near; that acknowledges his hand in the minutest affairs of life, and yet detracts not from his dignity as the maker and mover of the spheres. He who 'lighted' up the sun, formed the moth that bathes its beauteous wing in the bright sunbeam; and that insect's existence as truly demonstrates the infinitude of his power, as does the great fountain of light in whose radiance it rejoices.” ~Jared Waterbury

“All other things have changed—all other things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age. The world is waxing old—the heavens and earth must soon pass away and perish! There is One alone, who has immortality—of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change.” ~Charles Spurgeon

Losses

Psalms 23:1

“(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” 

Men mourn their earthly losses: loved ones departed, homes razed by fire, possessions destroyed by natural calamities, treasures gone through theft, reputation marred by false accusation, false friends, and unfaithful spouses. For the Christian, these losses count nothing to the loss of communion and fellowship with God. Earthly possessions are transitory and are meant to be left here on earth; they do not have a place in heaven. Loss of trusted friends because of treachery can never be considered loss but gain, and loss of loved ones who are fellow believers are not loss but temporary disruption of companionship for they will meet again in heaven.

Life’s losses naturally grieve us for they keep us bereft of things which are part of us, of people close to our bosom. But being emptied of these that we treasure will after all be beneficial to us for it will lead us back to God, whose communion with us has been diminished or has taken a back seat in our lives. These things and people who have been our source of delight might have gained preeminence or of supreme importance to us overshadowing our relationship with Him Who as we have known is a jealous God. Our love for God must remain unparalleled; loving Him must be our foremost occupation. We can lose all the world can offer but with Him remaining, we have everything.

“What are temporal and worldly losses of the sorest kind—while God remains? Yes, what is the loss of money, houses, costly furniture, and other possessions, while God's love remains? There is surely enough in Him—to compensate a thousand times for every earthly loss! Our lives may be stripped bare—home, friends, riches, comforts, gone; every sweet voice of love, every note of joy silenced—and we may be driven out from brightness, tenderness and shelter—into the cold ways of sorrow; yet if we have God Himself left—ought it not to suffice? Is He not in Himself, infinitely more than all His gifts? Is He not in Himself, infinitely more than all His gifts? If we have Him—can we really need anything else?” ~J.R. Miller

Philippians 4:19

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

Deceitful and Desperately Wicked (William S. Plumer, 1802-1880)

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” 

Man is the only creature on earth that seems to practice self-deception. That we should sometimes deceive others is proof of our depravity; but that we should spend our lives in self-deception is truly astonishing. Men of the fewest virtues commonly have the highest thoughts of
themselves. How strange and yet how common that he, whose heart has deceived him a thousand times, should yet confide in it as if it had always been honest! 

The human heart deceives every being but one. It would deceive Him, if He were not omniscient. None but God knows all the depths of iniquity and duplicity within us. 

Though the language of the Bible is strong, it is just. God declares, and every Christian knows by sad experience—that his heart is deceitful above all things. A perfect knowledge of the treachery of our hearts is possessed by none but God.

The heart is also VILE. It is "desperately wicked." It loves vanity, and folly, and sin. It hates holiness, and truth, and divine restraints. It is a sink of iniquity, a pool of pestilential waters, a cage of unclean birds, a sepulcher full of dead men's bones. It is torn by wild, fierce, unhallowed passions. It rejects good and chooses evil. It is wholly corrupt. It is full of evil.There is no soundness in it.

" For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:" Matthew 15:19

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26

Vanity of Vanities

Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

“Man by nature sets his heart upon what is vain and worthless — that which is not suited to, or required by, his immortal nature. Vanity represents that which is light, changeable, and of brief duration. Man displays his love of vanity . . . 
  by preferring human friendship — to God's friendship, 
  by thinking much more of the creature — than the Creator; 
  by preferring earthly riches — to heavenly felicities; 
  by preferring carnal pleasures — to spiritual delights!
Nor only so — but he manifests his foolishness by indulging in sin — the worst of vanities!” ~James Smith

“Earthly things are golden dreams, which leave the 
soul empty when it awakens and comes to itself. 
All the sweet waters of pleasure cannot quench the 
soul's insatiable thirst; nor can the most ravishing 
music fill the clamors of conscience. Satan casts a 
mist before men's eyes and deceives them—making 
them set real affections upon false delights. The 
Scripture deciphers the world, to be a non-entity, 
'Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.' Proverbs 23:5" ~Thomas Watson
 

“We are empty vessels in ourselves--but we cannot remain empty. Unless Jesus dwells in our hearts, and fills them with His power and presence--they will be filled with folly, vanity, and vexation!” ~John Newton 

“Nothing on earth can satisfy the soul! 
It leaves its pleasures, with a craving for more. 
It sighs to increase its satisfactions. 
It grieves to think how limited are all its joys.”~George Mylne 

“My soul, why seek your happiness below — here in this fallen world, where 'all is vanity'? Oft have you tried it, anxious still to find some earthly good. As often you have found Solomon right, that 'all is vanity.'" ~George Mylne

http://www.gracegems.org/

Out of the Wilderness to the Glorious City

I am a wilderness wanderer on my way to that great city of habitation, “the glorious city which has foundations Whose Builder and Maker is God. It is that blessed city which is all pure gold, as clear as glass, a city which has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of the Lord lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof . This is the city where the saints will dwell forever. And the Lord is leading for each and all of His wilderness wanderers by the right way, that He may bring them in the same way into His eternal presence and to the enjoyment of those pleasures which are at His right hand for evermore (J.C.Philpot).”

In my wilderness journey, I walk through snares and temptations, like a sheep lost and helpless amidst vipers and snakes, in need of the defense and care of his Shepherd. I continually walk through hunger and thirst, through the storms and the droughts, through the coldness and wickedness of men, and the untrustworthiness of my own heart. I know I should not tarry nor linger for no matter how high the mountains and how deep the valleys, how thorny the paths and how tempestuous the seas, my Shepherd is guiding me by the right way, and shall deliver me out of this wilderness, to bring me on that perfect day to that great and Glorious City.

"Thus, looking to Jesus and going to Jesus, we travel through this intricate wilderness comfortably and safely to our home in heaven." ~Mary Winslow

“You shall then see, to your endless joy, what wonders of infinite grace have been wrought for you – in preserving and increasing your spiritual life amid innumerable deaths – and forever adore the conduct of wise grace that brought you safe to the heights of glory – through such dark and intricate maze – from the depths of earthly encumbrance. And until you are blessed with sight, you must live by faith. No reason is there for discouragement, since through the wilderness you have such a glorious Guide! Your dear Lord Jesus is given to be your companion through the world’s tribulation – you have His arm to lean on – and His bosom to rest in, under all your weakness, and in all your disconsolation. If your way be rough -- your shoes should be iron or brass; if you are surrounded with dangers – the eternal God is your refuge; if you are ready to faint under pressing weights – underneath are the everlasting arms for your support.” ~Anne Dutton

Christian Old Age

2 Corinthians 4:16

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 

“Old age should be the best—the very best, of all life! It should be the most beautiful, with the flaws mended, the faults cured, the mistakes corrected, the lessons learned. Youth is full of immaturity. Midlife is full of toil and care, strife and ambition. Old age should be as the autumn with its golden fruit. We ought to be better Christians than ever we have been before; more submissive to God's will; more content, more patient and gentle, kindlier and more loving—when we grow old. We are drawing nearer to heaven every day—and our visions of the Father's house should be clearer and brighter. Old age is the time of harvest; it should not be marked by emptiness and decay—but by richer fruitfulness and more gracious beauty. It may be lonely, with so many gone of those who used to cluster about the life—but the loneliness will not be for long, for it is drawing nearer continually to all the great company of godly friends, waiting in heaven.” ~J.R. Miller

Dying in Christ! (by William Purton, 1868)

Philippians 1:21

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

Though our outward man perishes — yet the inward man is renewed day by day. When this frail tabernacle of mortality is dissolved — we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord — whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

When the appointed hour is come, the believer's body falls asleep, but the soul departs to be forever with the Lord. Then shall be sung that hymn of triumph, which in its fullness shall be sung on the resurrection morning: "Death is swallowed up in victory!"

My Lord and Savior is the life — joined to Him by living faith, I shall never die — never see death. That which we call death will have no power over my immortal spirit. Departing I shall hear the voice of Jesus: "Today shall you be with Me in Paradise!"

When I am dead, and silent lying,
Should you, in your hour of awe
Gaze upon me — softly sighing,
Back the solemn curtain draw.

But the frame of clay you'll see,
O beloved, will not be me!
I shall be with Christ, my treasure,
Drinking in eternal pleasure!

Yes, then shall I be at Home — joyous and holy, forever and ever!
"Happy and blessed death — that golden bridge between Time's clay banks — and Heaven's shore!"

2 Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”