HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

 

As I sit here this morning, my mind goes back over the last year.  We are approaching the Thanksgiving season once again, and Christmas and the New Year.  Christmas decorations are filling the shelves, and a continuous flood of Christmas magazines fill my mailbox.  Do you remember with me when the Christmas season started the day after Thanksgiving?

 

There was always a great parade and Santa came to town, the season officially started.  Then the decorations went up, lights went on.  And we children started learning our little Christmas poems to say in the Christmas program at church.  Do you remember?  Oh, such wonderful memories!

 

We have come far from those traditions.  But what is on my heart is how far we have come in our walk of faith over the last years.  As we look back we see moments of great joy and sorrow, and pain.  We see our world losing touch with that walk of faith that we have known.  So many don’t know Jesus and are wrapped up in worldly pleasures.  Many have walked away from the walk of faith that they once knew.  With the holiday season approaching, a time of celebrating our Lord’s birth, many will be wrapped up in the materialistic part of the season, ignoring the carols of His birth, and all the splendors that speak of His coming.  Yes, we have come far.  Look back and see how far you have come.

 

As I look back over this last year, I can see a pattern of where I have walked, and it has been a year of pain, being unable to do the things on my heart in ministry.  I saw several dear ones go home to be with Jesus, even a loved family member.  I have been able to comfort a grieving widow, even in my own pain.  As I look back I remember praying for the sick over the phone, doing what I could do for Him.  I haven’t been able to share as much as I like here, but with the Lord’s help I will be able to share more of what is on my heart.  So how far have you come in all your struggles this past year?  Look back over the year, the path you have trod and see that “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

 

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

 

Refrain:

We’ve come this far by faith,

Leaning on the Lord;

Trusting in His holy word.

He’s never failed us yet.

Oh! We can’t turn back,

We’ve come this far by faith.

 

Don’t be discouraged

Trouble in your life;

He’ll bear your burdens

And move all discord and strife. Oh!

 

Refrain

 

Just remember with good

Things He has done;

Things that seemed impossible,

Oh, praise Him for the vict’ries He has won. Oh

 

By Albert Goodson

 

So how far have we come?  We have come down this path totally by faith, leaning on Him for every detail of our lives.  And there is no way I can turn back, I have walked too far with my Lord and the older I get the closer I am to seeing Him face to face someday and He will make the path plain behind me, and show me the reasons for things in my life.  He’s never failed me and He won’t fail you.  Just keep your eyes on the goal ahead.

 

And not one word that He has promised will fail, His Word stands true through the ages, and now it continues to speak to us His people.

 

“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised; there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses, His servant” I Kings 8:56.

 

So let us remember the good things He has done in our lives.  Let’s praise Him for the work He has done in our lives, and the victory He has brought.  Thank Him for our salvation and for our eternal home.  Thank Him for the cross, and His love for us.  And thank Him for our walk of faith that has brought us this far and we look forward to the year ahead as we continue this journey of faith, walking with Jesus and trusting His holy Word.

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon