Guidelines For Living Devotional

Picking up the pieces of your life after someone you love has passed through the valley of the shadow of death is never an easy task.  Because no two individuals are the same, facing grief doesn't necessarily follow the same pattern.  Some express their emotions, which is usually healthy, and some internalize them and take much longer to reconcile their loss.

If life is a matter of happenstance or chance, then ending your life when the going gets tough shouldn't be of much concern to anyone else.  But, on the other hand, if life is sacred and you were made by God in His image, then the decision to take your life isn't yours to make.  It's because life is sacred that most major religions have prohibitions against suicide.   But how does God view this?  If God has a plan and purpose for your life, would suicide ever be included in that plan?  Do things ever get so desperate that God can't solve them? 

Do you think of yourself as a chance happening, a mistake, or possibly an accident?  Not if you believe what the Bible says.  It says you were created in the image of God for Him, by Him and to fulfill His purpose.  So you didn't know God had a purpose for you, did you?  "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe," says Psalm 139:16 (Living Bible). 

In recent years, self-esteem has been touted as the answer to many of the problems confronting people. "There is this idea," says psychology professor Roy Baumeister, "that raising self-esteem will help prevent crime, drug abuse and teen pregnancy.  But the links are weak, tenuous and inconsistent." 

If you live in a Republic, the highest elected official in your country is a President; however, if you live in a Kingdom—say, for example, the British Isles or in Cambodia, you have a king, and that means only God ranks higher. Presidents can be voted out of office, but kings traditionally derive their power from their blood line, and most kings would tell you they are king by right of divine appointment.

Kevin Kompelien and his wife were confronted with the "Why-has-this-happened?" question when their son, then twelve years of age, was diagnosed with cancer. Years of Bible study or seminary provides a lot of knowledge, but there are times that only by going through the valley do we come to understand and experience the reality that God is enough.

I was a young man in my early 20's when I went to the hospital to visit an elderly man in his 80's who was alone in the world and simply wanted to see an end to his pain and suffering. Never shall I forget the frustration and embarrassment I felt when he looked up and asked, "Why does God allow my suffering?  Why doesn't he just let me die and end all of this?"  I'm still struggling to find a completely satisfying answer to that question, but I have come to understand that the old gentlemen who asked the question has lots of company when it comes to wondering why God allows certain things.

At a street meeting that was held by a Salvation Army group, a young man who was a drummer in the band reflected on his past life and how it had changed.  "Before I was converted," he said, "I used to drink a lot, but I don't drink anymore. Before I was converted, I used to swear a lot, but I don't swear anymore.  Before I was converted, I used to womanize, but I don't do that anymore."  Then, he added, "Since I was converted, about all I do is stand on this street corner and beat this old drum!"

Do attitudes ever change with the passing of time!  I thought of that recently as I read through a pocket-sized anthology of sayings and wisdom.  The little book, about a hundred years old, contains the reflections of educators and world leaders between – say, 1850 and 1900.  This, you must remember, was before the automobile, the radio, the computer and two world wars that thrust the world into the Atomic Age.

When you have an enemy outside your gate and you are only vaguely aware that he is out there, you are vulnerable. That's why people put locks on their doors and install alarms and surveillance cameras.  That's also why some live in gated communities behind walls.