It’s amazing what one finds when the snow melts in New Hampshire. After months of wintry whiteness covering the ground, the spring thaw is bringing up more than April flowers. Earrings, hand tools and even car keys that were deemed lost forever are being reunited with rightful owners.
As I was passing one of our rock walls a couple of weeks ago, I noticed three carefully balanced melon-sized stones perched atop the wall. The stones were placed there by a resident who wanted to commemorate the faithfulness of the Lord in her life, just as the Israelites built Ebenezers to remind them of what God had done in theirs. The young woman had carefully stacked them when the trees were still green and the flowers in bloom. They spent the winter covered with snow, and when they reappeared after the long 4 months, the young lady had moved on, giving in to the cry of the flesh rather than the call of the spirit on her life.
“A shame,” I thought, “that a work of the Lord can be revered one day, and forgotten the next.” But how often I do the same. I too have built a tower in my heart to the Lord and then almost immediately, given my soul over to the desires of my sinful nature. I too, have turned my back on an Ebenezer and continued to walk the ways of inconsistency and erratic behavior.
In his book, The Attributes of God, author A. W. Pink says it well: “Human nature cannot be relied upon, but God can! However unstable I may be, however fickle my friends may prove, God changes not. If He varied as we do, if He willed one thing today and another tomorrow, if He were controlled by caprice, who could confide [or have confidence] in Him? But all praise to His glorious name, He is ever the same. His purpose is fixed, His will is stable, His word is sure. He then is a rock on which we may fix our feet, while the mighty torrent is sweeping away everything around us.”
–ML
this spoke to me, knowing how precious and vivid the changes in nature are on the hill, and how often i want a change in my nature to last in my own strength or feelings…i am blessed to see the travelling mercies of another season have given your words deeper faith and trust in our Father!
Comment by wendyc — May 19, 2009 @ 3:08 am |
reminds me of.. me. been unstable. been trying different things and the same things. but again, finally, TODAY, to God. always again. can’t escape Him, glad and terrifying. So many ebenezers, and so many Peter-wholehearted-denials. I left I think just after this date. Healing is harsher and slower, much lonelier, but I still believe it’s His will and that He is putting me through it. and I did ask for it. Thanks Michelle, just for being. He is the only constant, the only faithful one. I’m pretty slow and dense, and I think it takes ongoing shocks to jog my memory of anything deep. it just wasn’t exactly happening there, and probably I was too impatient.. here’s an ebenezer just for small steps of renewal today.
Comment by Annie — September 5, 2009 @ 3:40 am |