Understanding


When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me – until I went into the sanctuary of God; Psalm 73:16-17

There are many things in this world that we do not understand. Lives are taken by senseless acts of violence and in freak motor accidents, sickness and disease rob people of their vitality, many times bringing them to an early grave. The wicked seem to prosper, getting richer and fatter while the cries of the poor go unheard. Injustice abounds. The unknown people get heavy sentences for small crimes while high profile people who’ve swindled the less fortunate out of their life savings often seem to get off too lightly. How can we accept, least of all understand, such things?

The psalmist speaks honestly of his lack of understanding of a seemingly unfair world where the wicked prosper, where the proud mock God and yet seem to increase in riches. In verses 13 and 14 of Psalm 73 he complains that it seems to him that though he walks in purity, his reward is only difficulties. “How come?” he asks, but he had no answers until he went into the presence of the Lord. It was there that he saw clearly what he could not see before. He saw that life is not really about these few short years we spend on earth. Rather it is about eternity and where we spend it. This will only be determined when our earthly life ends.

Yes a day of reckoning will come because we are eternal – our body will die, but it is only our ‘earth suit’, something to clothe and house our spirit which will live forever. Our time here on earth is merely our preparation for eternity. Choices we make here will determine where we spend eternity – either with God in eternal light and joy or without Him in eternal anguish and mourning.

Proverbs 9:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We cannot understand the true meaning of life without the knowledge of God and His ways. There are some things that happen here on earth that we will never understand this side of eternity, but we can find peace in the knowledge that “In His presence [will be] fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11. Either our questions will be answered there or our joy will be so complete that it will not be important for us to have the answers.
Let’s desire to be found in his sanctuary – the place where knowing Him brings peace.

Prayer: Dear Father, help me to seek your face and dwell in your presence for there I will find peace from all my striving. Amen