Who will be the next Justice? Will he or she lean conservative, liberal or hold a position somewhere in-between? It’s too early to tell. What we do know is that change is inevitable. And if the ages of several of the remaining justices mean anything, more change is likely on the horizon.
In my last blog we talked about Jacob meeting up with his brother Esau. Interestingly God, after watching Jacob deceive his brother and now, as an adult, try to patch up their relationship, decides to change Jacob’s name.
Satan has so manipulated God's holy plan for this world that the thumbprint of a sacrificial, compassionate Creator, our loving Father, has nearly been effaced from the planet. Not only has he wreaked havoc with nature, but the Devil has train-wrecked an innumerable number of human lives. Rightly did Peter write in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
On this trip home, Jacob discovered that God had not forsaken him, even though he had messed up years before. As Jacob worries himself to sleepless nights about the fate of his family, God visits him.
"So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met with him. When Jacob saw them, he said, 'This is God’s camp.' And he called the name of that place Manhanaim" (Genesis 32:1, 2).
My wife and I were living in Tennessee. We had taken a two-hour trip down to the Chattanooga area and were on our way back home. The weather had turned for the worse and we were caught driving through icy conditions. We had made it to the stop sign approximately a quarter-mile from our home where our progress was delayed by a car accident at the intersection.
Yesterday, knowing that it would be a long night, I decided to stay up late to give time for life to settle in the lobby. But, at around the time I thought things were quieting down, someone started coughing incessantly. After several minutes of putting up with the noise, I decided I needed to move. I opened my door and took two steps to the front desk but there was no one there. I waited around for some time but the clerk was no where to be found. The only person there was the coughing culprit (probably couldn’t sleep so came out to the lobby instead).
I was tensely comfortable as I drove knowing that any unforeseen incident could cause me to be late but realistically expecting a smooth ride with an on-time finish. After all, I’d driven this same route every morning for some time now without incident. Then I saw it. Every morning commuter’s nightmare. Let’s see if you can guess: big, yellow, ugly, flashing lights, stop and go, and red stop sign. If you guessed school bus, you’re right on. Seriously! How have I not met up with a school bus on this road over the past several months?
But, it’s not just the exhaustion of a long day that betrays my age. Aging is beginning to show up in other places. I used to be able to eat anything I wanted without gaining weight–not true anymore! Then there are the aches and pains that follow manual labor around the house. And my eyes? Well, I’m wearing bifocal contacts now and struggling with those.
The daily news cycle can be enough to make a person realize that something is not quite right in this world. We were created for something better—something different. And Jesus came to this planet so that we could look forward to a better life with Him for eternity! You can have hope throughout the year as you experience Peace on Earth.
My wife and I were living in Tennessee. We had taken a two-hour trip down to the Chattanooga area and were on our way back home. The weather had turned for the worse and we were caught driving through icy conditions. We had made it to the stop sign approximately a quarter-mile from our home where our progress was delayed by a car accident at the intersection.
