The Sadness of Separation by Dennis Tucker
(http://www.TruthFactor.com)
There are numerous passages in the Bible with the word "separation". Some of those passages speak of God's creative powers. God separated the light from the dark, Genesis 1:4. He then separated the water above the expanse from the water beneath the expanse, Genesis 1:7. Other passages speak of a different type of separation. The separation of children from parents, husbands from wives, Christians from non-Christian, and man from God.
It is sad to think of the pain and heartache when children are separated from their parents. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. For much of his life he lived in Egypt while his father, Jacob, lived in Canaan. Jacob thought Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, he tore his clothes and mourned over the loss of his son, Genesis 37:34. It did not matter that Jacob still has eleven son's still alive. The loss of one was almost unbearable. Likewise, today parents never recover. Accidents happen and the lives of children end each day. Every parent reading this article can understand the sadness of these occasions. I also know of separation between parents and children due to abandonment. There are parents who decide they don't want the responsibility of having children. Fathers who still want to be 18 years old and just have fun. Mothers who decide they want to have a career instead of change diapers or mend bruised knees. I know of two young children who's mother left them. They now live with their grandparents who love them and provide a stable environment. About once a month the mother shows up and spends a Sunday afternoon with their two children. She then leaves. For the next week the children want to know why their mother does not love them. Try explaining to a child that their mother finds a "career" more important than being with them. Mothers are told to love their children, Titus 2:4. Fathers likewise are told to bring up their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). We can and do understand these tragedies just described.
Another separation we see much too often is between husbands and wives. I was talking to a schoolteacher a few years ago about the problem of divorce. Some children are working on their third or forth daddy by the time they are in the sixth grade. According to the Bible, divorce is permissible only in the case of adultery and then only the "innocent party" has the right to get a divorce and remarry, read Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:10-12; Luke 16:18. To divorce a spouse for any other reason is to break one's covenant with God and their spouse. It is sin and will cause a soul to be lost. It is also very painful. The spouse who did not want the divorce is left without the companionship they deserve. It is hard enough to lose a spouse to death, it can be even worse to be separated because of a lack of love. We know there are some reading this article that have experience this kind of separation.
Then there is the separation between Christians. Paul instructed
the brethren at Corinth to not go beyond what is written, 1 Corinthians
4:6. Yet brethren sometimes want to go beyond what has been revealed
and authorized by God. In the 1950's and 60's division occurred
over churches supporting man made institutions such as colleges
and orphan homes.
Sometimes divisions occurred not over doctrine but over attitudes.
David wrote, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalms 133:1, NKJV)
The opposite way of saying this would be, "How sad and how
unpleasant it is for brethren to have division and strife."
There are times when we can not compromise the word of God for
the sake of unity. There are times we must strive to have unity
based upon God's Word. There are also times when we must be willing
to recognize matters of faith verses matters of opinion. Let us
never separate over matters of opinion.
The saddest separation one can read about, in the Bible, is that which occurs when man sins against God. There are a lot of people who are living their daily lives in this condition. They do not think of what will happen to their soul if they die separated from God. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matthew 25:32, 40-42). Of all the separations this is the most serious. It is even more serious children separated from parents, husbands from their wives, and brethren from each other. This separation can be eternal. If a person dies separated from God they will be lost for eternity. So what can we do?
In order to take away the pain and sadness of separation one must once again be united. Parents can and must be re-united with their children. Then and only then can both be happy. Husbands and wives must be reconciled and live together in love. Brethren can seek the unity of the spirit and please God. In order for us to be reconciled to God we must have our sins forgiven. "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) To be united with God one must be in Christ. To be in Christ one must be baptized for the remission of their sins, Galatians 3:27. At that time we can have the hope of heaven and of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever, Psalms 23:6.
Copyright ©2001, Dennis Tucker, Truth Factor.
The Hands of a Master - Author Unknown
(Contributed by L. Dillinger)
Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked: NO ADMITTANCE.
When the house lights dimmed, and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing". Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.
That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our
own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't
exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master,
our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out
to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the
voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit.
Keep playing". Feel His loving arms around you. Know that
His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life. Remember,
God doesn't call the equipped,
He equips those who are called.
PSALM 119 - Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
RESH. (Ps 119:153-160)
[153-155. Though the remembering of God's law is not meritorious,
yet it evinces a filial temper and provides the pious with promises
to plead, while the wicked in neglecting His law, reject God and
despise His promises (compare Ps 9:13; 43:1; 69:18).]
153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget
thy law.
154 Plead [&c.--HENGSTENBERG translates, "Fight my fight."
(See Ps 35:1; 43:1; Mic 7:9).] my cause, and deliver me: quicken
me according to thy word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according
to thy judgments. (See on Ps 119:149)
157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline
from thy testimonies. (Compare Ps 119:86, 87, 95)
158 I beheld the transgressors [or, literally, "traitors,"
who are faithless to a righteous sovereign and side with His enemies
(compare Ps 25:3, 8).], and was grieved; because they kept not
thy word. (Compare Ps 119:136)
159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according
to thy lovingkindness. [(Ps 119:88). This prayer occurs here for
the ninth time, showing a deep sense of frailty.] (Compare Ps
119:121-126, 153-155)
[160. God has been ever faithful, and the principles of His government
will ever continue worthy of confidence.]
160 Thy word is true [that is, "every word from Genesis (called
so by the Jews from its first words, 'In the beginning') to the
end of the Scriptures is true." HENGSTENBERG translates more
literally, "The sum of thy words is truth."] from the
beginning [The sense is substantially the same. The whole body
of revelation is truth. "Thy Word is nothing but truth"
[LUTHER].]: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth
for ever.
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THE BOTTOM LINE
You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis
is alive!