The Lord Cares For the Godly

“For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:9-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wicked people may appear to have the upper hand at times. Momentarily, they may flaunt their prowess before those who are the humble servants of God! We must remember that this world, and all that it affords is perishing! Time is not on our side. All of us are losing the battle against time. Time always tells the story of our lives. Some will eat, drink, and be merry in their short pilgrimage of life. Some will grasp the reality of eternity. Those who live in light of the eternal will watch their steps and guard their hearts. Jim Elliot once said "He is no fool  who gives what he can't keep to gain that which he cannot lose" Jim was one of five missionaries who were attempting to reach a remote tribe of people called the "Huaorani" in Ecuador. This tribe was nick named the "Auca" which means "naked savages". This was the most dangerous tribe Known to man. The other four were Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Nate Saint. In January of 1956, all five were speared to death as they tried to take the gospel into this tribe. Their bodies were found in the Curaray River at their base camp. Jim was age 28. He, and the other men, gave their lives, in their prime, to carry the message of Jesus to the lost. Though he and his fellow men were  killed, their sacrifice opened the hearts of this tribe and they are now a Christian people. Jim's wife, Elizabeth Elliot, was able to go into this village and share the good news of Jesus. She had lost her husband to these people in a brutal way, yet she loved them and continued the work her husband had died for. At the time this occurred, Jim and Elizabeth had a little girl named Valerie. She was born February of 1955. Not even a year old, she had lost her dad. Her mother, Elizabeth, reared this little girl, for two years, on the mission field among those who were responsible for Jim's death. Rachel Saint, Nate's wife, also helped in this way. What an inspirational testimony!  Jim, and his brethren, knew that the only lasting thing is found in Jesus Christ!  Today, don't fret over fleeting, sinful acts of men. Their finality is certain. Live a godly life and trust God with the reward of eternity. This life is not what we should be living for! Live to live again!