“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities)
Life in our times or in fact any era is characterized the presence of dualities: light and darkness, ups and downs, plentifulness and emptiness, sadness and happiness, grief and great elation, youthful days and elderly days, painful times and pleasurable times, times where tension in our societies is elevated and times of peaceful existence. There are too many dualities to name in this meditation. But in the face of these changing eras of life, there is good news. The Lord is with you.
And listen! If you are not familiar with Dicken’s literary work, I am sure you are familiar with the long-sung words expressed in our church gatherings; “Sometime up and sometimes down. Sometimes level to the ground. But I’m going to see the king.” Those words help reassure God’s people in any generation, including yours, that the Lord is with you as you tarry along the right direction.
In addition to being encouraged and hopefully lifted up by the closing verses, let’s benefit from the Apostle Paul’s words found in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (Message Bible), “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.”
Have a great day, my friend. Be blessed1
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord your God…” (Isaiah 43:2-3a The Amplified Bible Classical Edition)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
Let us praise Him through all dualities of our lives!
Yes, let us praise Him! Be blessed!