Wellspring of the joy of living,
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel, weeping for her children, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were no more.” Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:18
Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.
Then said Christian, What means this?
The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the devil: but in that thou seest the fire, notwithstanding, burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the back side of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.
Then said Christian, What means this?
The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. (2 Cor. 12:9). And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee, that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul. —Pilgrim’s Progress
As I am writing this I didn’t want to include such a horrific part of the Nativity story. But we can’t ignore there is deep the deep sorrow of Rachel. Last night I dreamed of all the weeping sons and daughters of God. A unnumbered crowd and their sorrow was shown to me. And grief is a part of this life and this great war between heaven and hell. I would like to state there will be no tears ahead for the redeemed.(Ps. 23:2; Isa. 25:8; Ezek. 34:23, Rev. 7:17) There are tears now. Yet Mary’s fruit, and first born Son is immortally and eternally God. The HIGH KING OF KINGS FOR ALL TIME will revivify the dead. And there are promises for those who mourn. Matthew 5:4 “blessed are those who mourn they will be comforted.”
“To all who mourn he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3).
Pray for those under the heaviness of sorrow and grief.
JOB 19:25-27 NIV I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Father we want to know —we long to understand in the face of grief in the face of sorrow or death we will see again. We will rise again, we will in the very bodies which died see the Lord. See the return of the King. Help us yearn for and live with eternity and a confidence of our redemption in mind. OH LORD THAT WE MAY SAY ‘I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES.’
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev. 1:18
Psalm 23:6 The Passion Translation So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!
