August 24, 2012
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. -- 2Corinthians 1: 4 (NLT)
Song writer Don Henley once wrote about how things can change in what he described as a "New York Minute." In his song there was a man named Harry who went to work one day but was "too much in this world" and he never came back. This morning, Steven Ercolino became too much in this world as he went to work in New York City, never to make it back home. One of the great lies the devil and his world system sells us is that we have so much time here on earth but the Bible tells the truth:
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone. -- James 4: 14 (NLT)
When the fog lifted this morning, Steven Ercolino was gone. A former employee who had been downsized out of his identity shot him dead outside the Empire State Building in New York City. The gunman himself was then shot dead by police as nine others were injured in the crossfire. Thankfully, none of them are believed to be seriously wounded. As this world continues to erode morally, ethically and financially we can expect to see more and more incidents such as this that sometimes it is so difficult to wrap our heads around. The truth is that we are heading deeper and deeper into the end times, which Jesus Himself taught us about:
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. -- Matthew 24: 12 (NLT)
The only thing that matters for Steven Ercolino now is if he had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If he did that should be of great comfort to those who knew him. If not it should be a wakeup call. Death is often what forces people to really evaluate life. The key verse today deals with comfort. It has a couple of parts for us to consider in light of this tragic shooting. The first of which is that God comforts us in all of our troubles. He does not comfort us in some of them, or just the really hard ones. All of our troubles are greeted by our God by comfort. The dictionary defines comfort as bringing someone soothing, reassurance and cheer. I like the order here because this really is what God does for us in our troubles. The first thing he addresses is our discomfort. It hurts. We are human beings who experience pain and need to be soothed.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. -- Psalm 147: 3 (NIV)
Sometimes we want to walk right into a hurtful situation and start rebuking and quoting Scripture. God always meets us at our place of need first and we should strive to do the same with others. Secondly, God provides us with reassurance.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. -- Isaiah 43: 2 (NLT)
What good is comfort without reassurance? That would make the comfort quite temporary. What is of particular note however is that God never promises there will not be deep waters in this life. He never promises that we are exempt from the fires of oppression in this world. He does however promise that as long as He is with us we will not drown and we will not be consumed. THAT is reassurance. Happiness is conditional but joy is positional. It is our position in Christ that allows joy in the midst of uncertainty.
Lastly, God comforts us by providing cheer. Yes we need to be consoled and yes we need to be reassured but God does not leave us in a state of being morose. This world perpetuates misery. It reinforces the darkest emotions and coddles depression. God doesn't deal with the symptoms; He goes right to the root!
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. -- Psalm 16: 11 (NKJV)
The path of life is not through this world beloved. The Bible says that we are but pilgrims and sojourners in this world. We cannot take up residence. We cannot become citizens. Our joy is found in the presence of God. Joy that is neither fleeting nor conditional. Positional joy in knowing who we are in whom we serve.
So we grieve today at another senseless tragedy in a world that is decaying minute by minute. But the true key to the key verses is not found in how God comforts us but in why He comforts us. So that we can give that same comfort to those who do not know God. When all you value is found in this temporal world then events such as today can really shake who you are. Shake you right down to the bones. Same thing as the Colorado movie theater shooting last month. Or the shooting of Gabby Giffords. Or Columbine. It simply does not end and will only get worse as we continue on to hear the trumpet resound and our faith becomes as sight. Until then however, there is a world full of people on the outside of salvation looking in. Events such as today while tragic, allow us an avenue into giving back the comfort God has given to us. To show people the love of Jesus Christ. Not to speak fire and judgment but rather, the peace that transcends all understanding and a love that is intended for the whole world. We need to be their source of soothing in a time when they are hurting. We need to be reassuring them that there is so much more beyond the world they have invested their hope in. We need to point them to the only source of positional joy they will ever know -- Jesus Christ.
Rev. Anthony
