By Dr. Dan Coflin, Co-Pastor, River of Life Church
I remember growing up in the country and our property was next to an orange grove. I always enjoyed when the oranges were ready for harvest because the fruit pickers would fill the grove with their ladders and songs. A song that I heard regularly from one man with a deep and loud voice was “Summertime.” The chorus refrains with: “Summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high. Oh, your daddy’s rich, and your ma is good-looking. So, hush, little baby, don’t you cry.”
Years later I discovered that song was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, later known as the “First Lady of Jazz”. I used to sing this song, just to myself, even though some of the lyrics puzzled me. I mean I loved the summertime. School was out, the weather was hot, and living on a lake I could swim and fish all day. But the baby would not have known if his daddy was rich, or his mother was good looking, and it really would not have matter to him anyway because the baby’s current circumstances were obviously unpleasant for him to be crying. Really, the baby just did not understand the kind of home he was born into because he was so annoyed by being hot, cold, hungry, wet, or a myriad of other possibilities.
About now you may be thinking how ridiculous this story is and what is the point? The point is that we all tend to focus on our current crisis, and we fail to look beyond where we are to what is truly ahead of us.
The Apostle Paul often found himself in unpleasant and difficult circumstances, but he writes to the believers in Philippi and says, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11) Paul goes on to explain that he has experienced both plenty and lack, good times and hard times. His conclusion was, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
Paul had an assignment from the LORD to take the gospel to the nations. To fulfill his assignment, it cost him. He had to forsake the comfort and convenience he might have enjoyed experiencing the hardships and dangers of travel. He listed in a letter of how he endured storms, robbers, riots, heat and cold, hunger and thirst, sleepless nights, and even shipwrecks. Yes, these harsh conditions were difficult at the time, but Paul writes again, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17)
I thank God for Paul’s endurance in the face of hardships and troubles because I get to enjoy the benefits of the gospel Paul preached and the revelation of the Word of God he wrote. I now know God is for me and not against me. God loves me, forgives me, and wants access into every aspect of my life because God wants to bless me and yes, use me for rewarding assignments to accomplish His will.
Are you willing to engage in some unpleasant activity at a gym to gain a stronger and healthier body? Are you willing to turn off a low value television show to read something that might change your life? Are you willing to surrender your life to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, knowing that some of the adventures He may lead you into could be challenging, but the rewards both here and in heaven will be unimaginably wonderful?
Pastor Dan Coflin and his wife Dianne co-pastor River of Life Church. They invite you to join them at 410 E Chapman Road Lutz, FL 33549. Services are at 10:30 am Sunday morning and 7:00 pm Wednesday nights with childcare provided. They are looking forward to meeting you! www.roltampa.org.
To read more articles from River of Life Church, click here.https://dunndealpublications.com/river-of-life-church-articles/