“Two
are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if
they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he
falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they
will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by
another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Finding a companion is a blessing, one to
be cherished. If your companion stumbles or is hurt, there is one who is ready
to help in time of trouble and need. It is a fitting theme for marriage, but
that is a theme fit for another day. For now, with the hearts of many of our
brethren hurting and wearied, be it at home, the Ukraine, or any point between
or beyond, we look to God’s words to us, for a companion who is eternal and
untouched by the troubles of our hearts. We look for a companion stronger than
us, wiser than us, and holier than us. We look for a companion who is not
burdened by our weakness or our worry. We look for a companion who is able to
conquer what we encounter. Scripture reveals Who that companion is for us.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills -
From whence comes my help” (Psalm 121:1)? A person’s eyes can tell the whole
story. In one look you can see pain or pleasure, sorrow or surprise. With one
look you can know if a person is distracted, disappointed, or even despondent.
The eyes are the window to the soul. “My heart pants, my strength fails me; as
for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me” (Psalm 38:10). “I am weary
with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God” (Psalm
69:3).
Did you see that? The light of life had
been taken from the eyes of the one hurting. The eyes of the hurting had cried
so much, their throat had gone dry and the eyes failed, they had no more tears
to give. When the heart has reached its breaking point, when it has had all
that it can take; when the eyes have cried all the tears they can cry and when
there is an emptiness beyond description of words, “I will lift up my eyes to
the hills.” Disease, divorce, death, discouragement, debt, disaster; if you
stare long enough and intently enough at any one of these, your eyes will be
filled with the pain of these moments. “From whence comes my help?” It was
rhetorical, because deep down inside, cutting through the pain, was the
reminder of truth, “My help comes from the Lord.”
No comments:
Post a Comment