Pastor's Corner: The word of our God stands forever

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

We recently celebrated the Fourth of July. Now the smell and sight of fireworks is just a memory. Some of the garbage from the long weekend still remains in our community however. Many of us either do not know or do not care that we are called to be stewards of that which the Lord has entrusted to us.

The prophet Isaiah records, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.” Have you ever considered just how short our time on earth is? Our life is but a mist or a vapor. It is over too quickly in some cases.

I know that God orders the steps of righteous people and that He is more interested in our fulfilling His purpose for our lives than we are. The challenge is to steward our time and resources while on this earth. We can accomplish this by recognizing that our time and resources really belong to Him.

What do you and I own that God has not given us? All good gifts come from God. He is the author of our lives and He will complete the good work He has begun in us.

Knowing that life is short and precious should cause us to be thankful. I know our country has real problems but I am thankful that God has determined the exact places that you and I should live.

Many of us have what my sister would call first world problems. Others have problems with food, housing and finances. The Bible tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The things are what we eat, what we drink, and what we wear.

Perhaps you have spent a significant amount of time worrying about your life. I want to encourage you that God has a good plan for you. He wants you to prosper and not perish. We can cooperate with God’s plan for our lives by listening to His Word and obeying what He tells us. As believers we have the Holy Spirit inside us.

When God instructs us to tithe, to be generous givers, and to freely give because we have freely received He is not making suggestions. He is giving us directions so that we can begin to enjoy life more abundantly than we have before. It is not easy to serve God instead of Mammon or to love God over money but once you make the decision to be sold out and separated to God the Holy Spirit will strengthen and encourage you. You will know that you are doing the next right thing.

God clothes the grass of the field. This spring the grass was brittle and dry and then we prayed for rain. God answered our prayers more abundantly than we imagined. We still have some time before the harvest but it is rapidly approaching. If you are reading this it is not too late to begin to recognize the brevity of life and to make the necessary changes so that one day you may hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

May God bless you big.

Kevin Barsotti

Ark Church