"A Lamp and a Light"
James Pardue • April 2, 2020
From the Pastor's Desk
Psalm 119:105
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
The Psalmist David surely knew what it was like to be in the dark in his day. As a Shepherd, when he cared for the sheep at night, it was dark. When his enemies as King revolted against him there were dark days. When trials and troubles confronted him in his daily life he knew what it was to have to face the darkness. David also knew where to look for the light in the days of darkness. It was during these times that he looked to Jehovah God through His Word.
The Psalmist recognized that the Word of God was a lamp to his feet and a light unto his path. It showed him where he was in his walk with the Lord and revealed unto him the path in which the Lord would have him to walk. David found great comfort in this since it dispelled the darkness in his life and helped him to find his way along life’s path.
My friend, dark days still exist. Personal days in our lives that bring problems, trials, and tribulations. Social, economic, political, and even religious darkness that causes fear to arise in the hearts of people. Yet may I remind you that as a Child of God we have a lamp and a light to look to that will dispel the darkness and shine a blessed light in our hearts and on our paths. That light is the verbally inspired, inerrant, God breathed Word of God. It is the Word that is forever settled in Heaven and is a rock that is a sure footing for us to stand upon. Even more it is a light that pierces even the darkest night in our lives and brings life, growth, comfort, and guidance in the day in which we live.
Take a moment every day and look into God’s Word as a Child of God and let it speak to your heart. Obey its direction and find the light that you need to guide you through each and every day. Let it warm your heart and guide your way until He comes again for us.
Pastor James
While going through some of my notes I came upon this poem by J.R. Naylor that I pray would be the desire of each of our hearts for those who are lost around us. "Dear Lord, I have a friend who's lost, without Thy love and care. I have a friend who's lost tonight - out in the dark somewhere. O Shepherd of the sheep, there's not one in the fold when day is done. O Shepherd of our souls, I pray, help Thou my friend to find the way! Dear Lord, I cannot help my friend who's lost and deaf and blind, but Thou the Great Physician art the Savior of mankind. And so I bring my prayer to Thee with earnest heart, and trustingly believing Thou - who draws all men unto Thyself - will help my friend!"
This weekend, while staying home like so any other Americans, my wife Karen decided it was a good time to repaint our laundry room from the beautiful canary yellow (my sentiments) to the nice clean "Swiss Coffee" that was her choice. Two gallons of good old Lowes Hardware Valspar Paint, a brush and a roller, and some other odds and end necessities and she was off to the races. Good bye Yellow and hello white (Swiss Coffee). The thing that I quickly noticed as I watched my wife go to painting (yes I helped some too :)) was how much cleaner, whiter, and revealing the new paint looked compared to my old favorite of yellow. What once I thought was clean and bright was instantly dark, dirty, and unwanted. What I thought was a pretty color instantly was shown to be dirty when put up against something bright and clean. I was then reminded as I looked at the two colors what God said in His Word that if we would come to him He would make us "Whiter than Snow" from our sins. Not White as snow but "whiter than snow". God promised that when He was finished with us that even the new fallen snow would look dirty in comparison to how clean He would make us in Christ. O my friend, it is beyond comprehension for us to realize just how clean and pure we have been made through the blood of Christ. This one thing I know, if the new fallen snow that glistens and makes us to squint due to the way it reflects the sun will be made to be dirty in comparison to the way we will be through the blood, then we will be clean and pure and fit for the presence of our Heavenly Father. Praise His holy name!!! Pastor James
I Thessalonians 4 : 18 “The Comfort of His Coming” “Wherefore comfort one another with these words”. Words are useless if they have no credibility, basis of fact, or help in what they promise. Many are the words that are spoken today that are just ramblings that offer no help to the hearer. Paul in contrast had just reminded the Thessalonian believers, and every believer down through the centuries, of words that were sure, credible, and provided for a great resurrection we all should look forward to in the very near future. You see Paul’s instruction concerning the rapture of the saints out of this world was based upon a living faith in Christ, certain resurrection that would take place, and a reunion that we would be able to enjoy for all eternity with our loved ones and so many more that we will meet who were saved by the grace of God. These words given by God through the Holy Spirit speak peace and comfort to our hearts. They remind us that this world is not our home, that we will soon be leaving out of this world for a new home, and that we will see Jesus face to face soon. Of the comfort that brings to our hearts when we face life’s way knowing that whether by the grave or by the air we are victors in Christ! Wherefore comfort one another today with these promises given to us by our Lord! Pastor James