Perspectives

Psalm 1: 1) Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2) but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3) That person is like tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers. 4) Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5) Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6) For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (NIV)

Remembering a story about a friend who went to visit a shut-in. This shut-in, an elderly gentleman was in his last chapter of life, but he really enjoyed company. His visitor friend thought it was necessary for him to ask a question regarding the here and after. So, he asked his elderly friend if he every thought about or spent time thinking about the here and after? “Oooh yes, oh yes, oh yes!” replied his old friend. “Every day; when I go into the basement, or when I go up stairs, even when I go to the you know where; I ask myself the question, what am I here after. What is it that I wanted?”

There is a Psalm in the Bible that talks about two quite different lifestyles. Two diverse ways of living and two vastly different destinies to think about. In verse one the Psalmist has just brought to our attention various things that the happy contented Christian does not do. For one thing… we do not follow evil people’s advice. We also do not make a habit to hang around or associate with those who do evil things; those who scoff at the things of God. You and I know we cannot achieve sinless perfection. We can, however, decide to be different. We will differ with the things which control the life of the wicked. By that I mean; we have made up our minds that we will not accept the common cause with those whose aim in life is to do harm to God’s Word and to mock the things of God.

Verse two… Our delight as a Christian comes from doing the things that please God. Day and night we meditate on God’s laws… thinking about ways to follow Him more closely. Verse three… How can we do that? What does the Psalmist mean? Sounds a bit strange or even weird one might think. However, when we talk about rivers or streams of water; for the Christian it means the Word of God, the Bible. “Are you sure about that?” But listen to what Isaiah the prophet says… Isaiah 55:10-11… (10) As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, (11) so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)

Verse 4-6 talks about the insecurity of the ungodly. Those who do evil, those who shun or reject the Word of God! What a different story. See what the Psalmist says… “They shall be carried off by the winds like chaff when the winds come.” Let me go one step further and point out that they are not safe on judgment day. Neither shall they stand among God’s people who strive to do God’s will. For the Lord God will watch over our plans and all that we do and the path we walk to keep us safe for eternity. But for the wicked, those godless people who continually do evil, their paths lead to doom. They shall perish; perish simply means “Lost.” It is a word of finality.

We have looked at two different lifestyles and two different destinies. One is a dead-end street; it leads to death. The other leads to life. God says what is right and what is wrong. We are living in a day and age when folks are not sure what is right and what is wrong. But God is sure. His Word does not change with every theory and every new movement we hear or read about. The choice is ours. If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ… Heaven will be our eternal home… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me… “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that will fulfill my hearts desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen