‘Normal’ doesn’t cut it . . .

Leviticus 21; Psalms 26–27; Ecclesiastes 4; 1 Timothy 6

This morning’s first thought was that the will of God be done. Life is not predictable, and if I didn’t believe that before, it becomes clear in these days of social distancing and death statistics. After a few weeks, many are calling for a plan, a timeline. When can we go back to work, back to ‘normal’ and get on with life? The need for money is strong, as is the need for a sense of purpose and fulfillment is not satisfied by the rules of isolation and efforts to flatten the curve.

But was ‘normal’ doing it for everyone anyway? Didn’t people have fears and uncertainties before this virus came along? Were we driven by things that didn’t seem to ever produce the results hoped for? Before Covid-19, didn’t we wonder what would satisfy the deepest longings and desires of the human heart?

This morning’s reading in the Psalms gave me a resounding amen to my desire for God’s will to be done. David wrote:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1–5)

David expressed his desire for contentment, confidence, and a rich life that is secure. He realized ‘normal’ didn’t do it. Instead, he sought the Lord, something not done very often in ‘normal’ life. He recognized that resting in God’s presence was his security. Gazing on the beauty of the Lord gave him a sense of ‘this is enough’ and he was not only content but overjoyed to be under His care.

In contrast, Solomon describes the futility that relates to ‘normal’ and is becoming more evident in this pandemic. In a culture where a person’s success has been motivated by envy, selfish greed and/or a desire for prestige, this virus threat has brought back the idea that labor back is a basic, a necessity on which our lives depend. People want to go back to work and stay alive. For many, the loss of what was giving their life meaning, even though it didn’t always do that, is too much to bear. No one wants to think that work does not work, just as isolation is not working. To face that means asking a deeper question — where will that satisfaction, sense of purpose and fulfillment come from?

David knew where. I know it too. This contentment and sense of purpose and well-being is found in the Lord God who gives it as part of the package, as part of the eternal life gained by abandoning sin and self and trusting in Him. The NT writers knew it too. This morning, I also read:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:6–10)

Instructions for a good life tell me to “flee these things, to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. I am to fight the good fight of the faith (these days it is a fight) and take hold of the eternal life to which I have been called and about which I have told many others . . . .” (1 Timothy 6:11–12) It goes on:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17–19)

If ‘normal’ means going back to self-centered motivations for work and for life, that which cannot be found in isolation will not be found there either. It is only in seeking the face of Jesus that satisfies the empty space, the longing of the human heart. In a saving, trusting relationship with God through faith in His Son, I settle down and rest — yet every day I must seek that place of rest and not get caught up in the fears and foibles of trying to do it without Him.

APPLY: Trust Jesus. Be centered in Jesus. Talk about Him. Tell others that He is the Savior, from sin but also from fear, enemies, discontent, purposelessness, snares and uncertainties. Practice what I preach. Trust Him with all my heart — I gave Him my life and I must allow Him to do with it as He wills — a big part is loving others —  and trust His will to be perfect.

Life’s greatest fulfilment

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:13–14)

Don, a brilliant young man with high IQ and love for Jesus Christ, read the book of Ecclesiastes and came to a conclusion that I’ve not heard from anyone else. He decided that it was written with joy! That is, Solomon had tried it all, found everything a vanity (like vapor), then joyfully understood that the meaning of life is only found in knowing and serving God.

Spurgeon might like that idea. He writes that nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self. The older I become, the more I see the same reality. God’s people try to find fulfilment in many things, but we tire of all else. Better to realize that Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all and not do it ourselves. He had the resources for these things, some that we cannot or should not do in our own search for fulfilment.  Here is Solomon’s testimony:

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine — my heart still guiding me with wisdom — and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)

He tried everything and concluded that life’s baubles were just that — mere baubles. Nothing lasts, and nothing truly satisfies. His conclusion:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The New Testament completes this decision. Our satisfaction is in a person, not in popularity, achievement, status, or any other thing. As Spurgeon says, “To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in his love, and be fully assured of union with him — this is all in all.”

Just as some children must touch the fire to believe it is hot, some people must try other ways to live, yet in all the beautiful places I’ve been and seen, there is nothing that can compare to my Savior’s face. I’ve had the comforts of life, but without Jesus and His presence, all is wretched and a burden. In contrast, I’ve been in pain and trials, but because the Christ was with me in those dark places, they were not only meaningful, but He gave me joy.

I understand what Don concluded. Life’s good things as well as its horrors can be laughed at, not because of madness or a detached insanity, but because the Lord Jesus Christ can make a dungeon a paradise. He can enter our trials, obscurities, famine, or persecutions and give us joy. In Him, there is peace.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

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Lord, You enter the battleground of my mind with such good thoughts. Yet even more, You are in my life — bringing me Your joy and peace. No matter what life splatters on me, or how I perceive the daily struggles, I can take heart and I can have great peace — because You have overcome all of those things — and because You live right here in my heart.