II Corinthians 7:5 “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.”
There are times in life when we sigh and say, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest” (Psalms 55:6)! Our Lord allegorized our service to Him as a “cross” (Matthew 16:24) because sometimes we are called upon to endure long arduous periods in which there is “no rest”, “we” are “troubled on every side”, “without” are “fightings”, and “within” are “fears”! The “troubles” in our personal lives just keep coming one after the other and “rest” seems to be a fleeting dream. Outside of our personal lives, all we hear of are “fightings”, everyone seems to be hatefully angry at everyone else, and our hearts and minds are constantly stressed with “fears” that things are going to get even worse. We don’t want to watch or listen to the news, for it seems that reports of troubles and “fightings” get more and more insidiously dramatic in each new report. It seems that the more horrific the event the more the news reporters thrive on it. Honesty, morality, integrity, kindness, and brotherly love have all been publicly cast aside and are replaced with greed, anger, and hatefulness. A great many in our Country seem to be embracing the principles of communism and socialism, which are proven enemies of true Christianity and freedom! My natural mind says, get ready, the worse is yet to come. But, thankfully my Spiritual Mind says, “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down” is on scene with “us” and He will comfort “us” (II Corinthians 7:6)! In such times, we must be careful about what we are looking at and listening to; are we looking at all the troubles and “fightings” or are we “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and are we worshipfully proclaiming, “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” (Psalms 123:1)! Now is a good time for Elder Ronald Lawrence’s “Up Look” Sermon!