Coffee With The Lord

We’ve all heard it… “You can’t take it with you!”  But how many (even Christians) act like it’s really true?!  We know that death is an inevitable reality… We know that there is nothing that we take to the grave (or put in it, as some have) that can be used.  A person may be ever so intimidating because of their wealth this side of the grave… they hoard, bribe, threaten, buy influence, and bully others… but then they die and their power to do that stuff anymore simply evaporates.  Everything they had goes to someone who may simply squander and waste it… After all, how powerful is Caesar or Nebuchadnezzar today?

I don’t know if you’ve ever borne the brunt of all that intimidation… But I read a Psalm this morning that helped give it some perspective for the righteous…

“Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! …

“Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?  Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.  For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.  But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol (i.e. death), for He will receive me! Selah

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.  For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.  For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself — his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.  Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”  (from Psalm 49 ESV)

To that I would only add the words of Jesus regarding the rich fool… “God said to him, ‘FOOL! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God!? (Luke 12.20-21)

What’s your favorite city? Why did you select that one… the food, the entertainment available, your experience with friendly, helpful people; or perhaps the fact that you lived there once? How about your least favorite city? Why did you select that one? (Let’s not go there, eh? ☺)

This morning in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I read about “Zion”… favorite city of the ancient people of God – the Jewish nation. For them (and in the Bible) it is an idealized city, representative of a future city – “the New Jerusalem” – eternal home of the righteous and God’s eternal abiding place! Psalm 48 talks about it – a “song of Zion”!!

“Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress… As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah

“We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! … Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, (i.e. consider her beauty – her qualities) that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” (From Psalm 48 ESV)

All of this reminded me of an old southern gospel song….

“Here among the shadows living in a lonely land,
With strangers we’re a band of pilgrims on the move;
Through dangers, burdened down with sorrows
And we are shunned on every hand,
But we are looking for a city built above!

Here in disappointment often we so sadly roam,