I Beg Your Pardon...
I Never Promised You...
Recently I was thinking about the impact inflation, recession, crime (shall I go on?) has had on each of us. It hasn’t been pretty, has it?
Oddly, that got me thinking on my past, and experiences in broadcasting over the years that began in 1968 when I was freshly graduated from high school. Do the math and you’ll know I’m a white-haired old codger. You probably didn’t know that before I embarked on my “career” in Christian radio, I worked in formats like rock, country, news, easy listening and beautiful music. It may even surprise you that my favorite format was beautiful music! That was an eye opener for an 18-year-old raised on country and rock music.
So much for history, however not interesting. But, back to my point. As I was considering our times, and the Scripture’s words about future times, an old (and I do mean old) country song popped into my brain. (Do old songs strangely pop into your mind too?) If you are old enough, you might remember Lynn Anderson’s hit “I Beg Your Pardon - I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.” (Circa 1970.)
A recent series on “Turning Point” from Dr. David Jeremiah pointed out that God’s Word tells of future times when things get worse and worse. Like what the Apostle Paul said in Second Timothy 3:1 - “…mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” What follows is a grim list of conditions that look an awful lot like these days. And, our LORD detailed in Matthew 24 what the last days would look like. Again, much like our days.
In another narrative, in John 16:33 Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!”
Hopefully, that reminder will be a key for us…a promise on which we can rely. If you are like me, you don’t see conditions getting much better. The world certainly does not offer much hope, does it?
But,the LORD DOES offer hope! Jeremiah (you know, the Weeping Prophet!) watched the horrifying destruction of his country. It broke his heart. However, even as he lamented that destruction, he could say: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him, it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26.) As we eagerly await the LORD’s return, we have hope. I guess the waiting in these times is the hard part! It’s real character builder!
Jesus encourages us to endure. Not to falter. To trust in Him. He assures us He has overcome the world. And, He will never leave or forsake us. And, oh yes! From Matthew 28: “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s great news, because on our own we can’t make it.
Finally (about time, right?) Jesus exhorts us at His coming to “…be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” That is a promise! He will come!
OK, now, finally, for real. King David gives us hopein Psalm 40, as we wait on Jesus return:
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.”
It may not always be a rose garden, but He IS with us, with a purpose, as we wait on Him.
-Ken Andrews, United Ministries VP
