____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20) ____________________________________________________ August 4, 1996 ____________________________________________________ The Mountain, the Valley, and the Path Between (or, The Vicissitudes of Life) by Tom Edwards The Mini-Flood I don't know what time it really started, but it was about 3:30 Wednesday morning when the disturbing thunder woke me from my dreams. The downpour was exceptionally long--perhaps several hours. Having not been able to sleep very well after that, I was later aroused even more by the sounds of nearby trucks. Looking out my window (about 6:15 a.m.), I noticed Lexington Avenue (between 12th St. and 13th St.) and part of 12th Street being deeply flooded; and the water was swiftly rushing over into my neighbor's property and filling his sunken backyard like a pool. I then also noticed a car stuck in the road, having water all the way up to the window level; and a white Cadillac farther on down that was also left stranded in the currents, in the cool, dark hours of the early morning. Putting on some old jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers, I went out to investigate more thoroughly. As I crossed Lexington Avenue to walk over to the SuperAmerica store, the water came up to slightly above my knees. Even part of their parking lot was more than knee deep, but it became even deeper as I walked toward 12th Street (between SuperAmerica and the Midtown Plaza). Higher and higher the water came up on me--cresting to almost my chest. Later, when I measured this, it turned out to be about 4 feet. ``In 53 years,'' said one of the men I talked with, ``I've never seen this much flooding in Ashland.'' Fortunately, the flooding was concentrated to just various small sections around town; but, unfortunately, it did cause some damage in some of these places. I overheard one police officer mention of someone down the road whose house filled with about 2 feet of water, and I heard just a few moments ago that one of the streets in Westwood had many homes damaged by it. Plus, some buildings in Flatwoods were partially ruined. As unusual as this flooding was, what was even stranger occurred after I came back from the public park (a few blocks away), where I had also gone to examine (about 6:40 a.m.) because of reports of high water there as well. On my return, all that four feet of water that I had been wading through--just 20 to 30 minutes earlier--was now virtually all gone. Though wet and sporadically covered with sediment, the roads were now drivable. It all seemed to me like a great ``disappearing act'': One minute, all that water; and a few moments later, it's all gone. Looking out the window now, I see the once flooded area is mainly dry. The ``pool'' in my neighbor's backyard has vanished. People passing by for the first time today in their vehicles or on foot, would see little indication of how this vicinity looked just a short time ago, during the early- morning hours. The Vicissitudes of Life As I now think back on this event that happened earlier today, I can see in it an illustration of the vicissitudes of life: one moment everything seems to be going great--then suddenly, a major reversal. Or, of course, this can also happen in the vice versa: we might feel as if we have been plagued with dark misfortunes--and then the sun shines through, and everything seems to be going our way again. Is this not how life is for most of us? We have our joys; we have our sorrows. We have our enjoyments; we have our doldrums. We find life easy; we find life difficult. Sometimes we're up on the mountain top; and other times, down in the valley. Or, to put this more succinctly, we have our ``ups and downs.'' To be more realistic, however, we need to remember that there is also a path that connects the valley to the mountain; and, perhaps, that is where we spend much of our time--even keeled--rather than simply jumping from poignant moments to times of elation, or from adverse circumstances to extremely fortunate ones. There is usually a lot of middle ground we cover with our emotions and our situations; rather than jumping from one extreme to the next. But whatever twists or turns our lot in life may take, we need to strive to be more like the apostle Paul who learned how to keep even keeled (content) in whatever the circumstance and no matter how diverse (Phil. 4:11-13). As he states in verse 12, ``I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.'' Contentment: Key to Happiness Without question, contentment is a great key to happiness. It's not so much what one has in financial or material things that brightens the soul; nor is it in having fame that true happiness can be secured; nor is it in acquiring great power that makes joy an undying emotion. For how often have we heard the examples of those who had the wealth, the fame, and the power, yet their lives ended in a joyless void and bitter despair? Many of these even taking their own lives. Jesus says, ``For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?'' (Mark 8:36). A rhetorical question, yet one to instill the point that nothing--even possessing the wealth of the world--would ever make losing one's soul worthwhile. In the eyes of God, the millions of dollars owned by the rich man doesn't put him even one step closer to the Lord than the fellow of modest means, nor even the poor peddler with his meager income--so wealth, therefore, cannot be the most important thing in life. I would rather be a pauper content with a little than a wealthy discontented individual who is obsessed by his insatiable and grasping desire for more and more. Solomon writes: ``Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it'' (Prov. 15:16). ``Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred with it'' (Prov. 15:17). ``Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice'' (Prov. 16:8). ``Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife'' (Prov. 17:1). ''...it is better to be a poor man than a liar'' (Prov. 19:22). ``Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich'' (Prov. 28:6). This is not to say that all wealthy people are evil--for they are not--but some of these verses do show the contrast between the lover of God and the lover of materialism, and they help us consider who really is better off. Hear what Paul wrote to Timothy about this: ``And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang'' (1 Tim. 6:8-10). As we go through life, we might find that our income doesn't seem to keep up with us too well. Perhaps, we, too, experience similar fortunes and misfortunes as the apostle Paul: we sometimes have an abundance; and other times we have suffered need. Trusting the Lord How was Paul able to handle the vicissitudes of life that he encountered? As he says in Philippians 4:13, ``I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.'' God is the one to whom Paul looked towards for guidance, deliverance, and comfort--for to Paul, the Lord is a sure foundation, as He also was to King Solomon, who teaches us to ``Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones'' (Prov. 3:5-8). Though life often has its abrupt changes--its mountains, its valleys, it twists, and its turns--the Lord does not change; He is a sure foundation, a mighty fortress, a safe sanctuary from the storms of adversity and unrest, an ever present help in times of danger. As the psalmist declares: ``The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness terrified me. The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears'' (Psa. 18:2-6). Former Trials What were the deep ``valleys'' you struggled through last year? or the year before that?, etc. Most likely, you no longer remember these difficulties because you trusted in the Lord, endured them, and came out on top. Often, these obstacles that once seemed so insurmountable, are just that: ``once'' and ``seemed.'' They are now no longer a problem holding you back, and you soon learned that they merely had the appearance of being unconquerable. Today, maybe you're out of a job; but tomorrow that job could show up! Just look back through your life at all the jobs you've had over the years. Though there were times when it might have appeared that nothing was going to show up for you, didn't something always turn up? God's Help Heartaches, griefs, bereavements can be hard to bear. We sometimes become so overwhelmed with these heavily burdensome emotions that we feel as if we are drowning in a sea of woe and will never surface again--but try latching on to the life-preserver of God's word, and remember Peter's comforting exhortation that we, as Christians, are to cast our every care or anxiety upon the Lord because, as the apostle says, ``He cares for you'' (1 Pet. 5:7). How tender. We need to give some serious thought to this verse. Tell yourself: ``Yes, God does care for me!'' God cares when you are hurt, when you are having a difficult time, when you are struggling to live for Him. If you are one of His children, take your burdens to the Lord and trust Him to deliver you from the weight of their load. You may also find comfort and strength in your brethren, who can also help to bear your burdens (Gal. 6:2). To express that one's state in life can change, the psalmist says, ''...Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning'' (Psa. 30:5). Are you overwhelmed with grief? Does it feel like a burden that can never be lifted? Jesus can help you. Your life can change! Your sorrow can be turned to joy through the Lord. Working with God It's important for us to remember that the Lord can cause ``all things to work together for the good'' to those who truly do love Him (Rom. 8:28). As we have seen, even trials, tribulations, and temptations can be for the good of the one who remains faithful while enduring such; and James, therefore, writes: ``Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance'' (Jms. 1:2,3). Through Zechariah, God speaks of refining His people through the fire ``as silver is refined''; and He will test them ``as gold is tested'' (Zech. 13:9). When we are ``down in the valley,'' the Lord can use our difficult times to help refine us, as a smelter does with precious ores--plus, according to what we just considered in Romans 8:28, the Lord can use everything for our good if we keep His commandments. Therefore, as we journey through life, whether low in the valley, high on the mountain top, or somewhere on the path in between; let us remind ourselves that God can work in us for our betterment NO MATTER WHAT THE VICISSITUDES of life! We simply must meet His condition through our own cooperation. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:12,13: ``So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.'' ___________________________________________ "...you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away...you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that'" (James 4:14-15). ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Ron Music's aunt, Sally Moles, recently passed away. We extend our condolences to the family, friends, and relatives. I also just learned a few days ago that Price McDonald's mother, from Russellville, Alabama, also passed away a couple weeks ago. Price used to be my next door neighbor when living in Danville, Kentucky; and we attended the two-year Bible program in Danville together, during my second year. We had 15 different visitors for July--three who had never been here before, and a few who attended several of our services for the month. Let us be praying for Susie Lykins who will be undergoing surgery August 5 for her gall bladder. She is the lady who has been mailing to many of you our weekly bulletin for several years now. We appreciate Karl Fleeman leading the singing for us in one of his recent visits. He is a brother to Rick and Ken--both former members here. Speaking of Ken Fleeman, his wife Michelle is due to deliver another child in the next couple of weeks. Let's be keeping her in prayer, too. (Ken is now in Pittsburgh with his new job.) Available: Free Bible Correspondence Courses; A study of the Bible via Bible Film Slides; Personal Home Studies; Ride to church (provided by a member); Answers to Your Bible Questions (if we know them). Feel free to contact us today about any one of these FREE offers! We would be happy to serve you. Come Visit Us Soon! A warm, hearty greeting awaits you! We are currently studying the book of Joshua (Sunday a.m. class) and Galatians (Wednesday evening). ___________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net __________________________________________