Ups and Downs

UPS and DOWNS

Days come and go. Where is God in our ups and downs? Just life. No, No, No our hearts cry out! Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel? Walking away - doing a Reginald Perrin!

I trusted in Christ in the 1950's . I remember arguing with God before that, as I cycled home from school. "How did we know Jesus was God" I'd ask. How? I do know he is now. Ever since I trusted him I've believed - but sometimes like hanging on by my fingertips. Ever done that?

Do you find it easy to walk away? In one way - yes - I mean wander off away from His loveliness into something not worth much! Do you find that gently, carefully Jesus draws us back and shows us his commitment to us? His forgiveness. His love.

What am I trying to say? Geoff has been talking of walking. Following God or walking by his side as we approach Easter.

Where is the pivot of our Faith? Jesus born in a stable - walking and heading towards his death. Crucifixion. We see him there, a familiar scene. Oh forgive us Lord to be familiar with that day. That day which was and is the centre of history. When God took upon himself all the sins of our history, present and future. All our sin. There was darkness over the whole earth.

So what of our ups and downs? In those ups and downs we must trust him who died for us. We must believe in him every day. Up and down we can rely on him.

I once told Mark, our son, that believing in Jesus was the most important thing he could do. Being a Christian. I've not been a good one - up and down - but kept coming back to try again. To walk again with Him.

Easter comes again. Walking toward that place again where God was murdered. Trust him. Believe in Him. Look at His death on that cross with faith, maybe for the first time, and He will open our eyes to see Him there and understand a little of what He did for us. In all our ups and downs he won't walk away - He is the faithful one.

Not long ago I found an old article I wrote years ago for another church magazine. In it I quoted the following verses, which I had forgotten until recently when I read the passage again. It comes again to speak to me.

" Teach me your way Lord and I will walk in your truth, Give me an undivided heart - that I may fear your name"

As we walk toward Easter let us make these words our prayer in our ups and downs.

Roger

This article first appeared in the Ramsden Bellhouse Baptist Church Review - Spring 2005 Edition.