MORNING MANNA 8- 9 -21
WHEN BAD IS GOOD
“ And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. “- Gen. 42:36
Assuming and presuming can get us in a world of trouble. For one thing it perverts our perspective and the way we look at things affects the way we do things. The wrong perspective can have devastating consequences. The fact is, we are not as smart as we like to think we are, and things are not always what they appear to be. For example, we often think something is bad when in reality it is good. Romans 8:28 tells us that is true. One of the problems is our failure to consider the time factor. What is bad at the moment might prove to be of great value down the road. Heb. 12:11 is an example of this – “ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby”.
An old story illustrates this well: A Chinese gentleman lived on the border of China and Mongolia. In those days, there was constant conflict and strife along the perimeter. The man had a beautiful horse. One day, she leaped over the corral, raced down the road, crossed the border, and was captured by the Mongolians. His friends came to comfort him. “That’s bad news,” they said sadly. “What makes you think it’s bad news?” asked the Chinese gentleman. “Maybe it’s good news.” A few days later the mare came bolting into his corral, bringing with it a massive stallion. His friends crowded around. “That’s good news!” they cried. “What makes you think it’s good news?” he asked. “Maybe it is bad news.” Later, his son, while riding the stallion and trying to break it, was thrown off and broke his leg. “That’s bad news,” cried the friends. “What makes you think it is bad news?” asked the Chinese gentleman. “Maybe it’s good news.” One week later, war broke out with Mongolia, and a Chinese general came through, drafting all the young men. All later perished, except for the young man who couldn’t go because his leg was broken. The man said to his friends, “You see, the things you thought were bad turned out good; and the things you thought were good turned out bad.”
Since we can’t see the future, nor understand all the ways of God we must walk by faith rather than sight. We must learn to trust God’s Word and take hold of His promises. Were we to live in the light of Rom. 8:28 it would change our perspective. Some of life’s greatest blessings come disguised as unbearable burdens. Some of the most fearful storms are followed by a rainbow of riches such as never seen before. We need only to be patient and wait upon the Lord to turn troubles into treasure, pain into pleasure, and burdens into blessings. God is at work and He is for you! -HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
