Smiles can hide pain. Case in point: Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He first became famous on the television show Mork and Mindy. He starred in many movies. However, the smiles were used to mask his pain.

Sadly, he took his life.

Life’s a brute and sometimes the ugliness of it can no longer be masked. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Job 14:1 

“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

John 16:33 

“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 

Psalm 34:19 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Yea, life’s not always pleasant, but before it gets to be too much, spend time in the Word and share your state of mind with someone close, whom you can trust. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Give it some consideration.

Gary

My wife was grading a science test at home that she had given to her elementary-school class and was reading some of the results to me. The subject was “The Human Body,” and the first question was: “Name one of the major functions of the skin.”  One child wrote: “To keep people who look at you from throwing up.”       – Contributed by Sam Jarrett, Reader’s Digest.

I know that is not very nice, but why did you smile? Wouldn’t you think that an omniscient God who sees everything would have that response? However, listen to how God sees us:

Isaiah 53:6

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Genesis 8:21

And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.”

In Christ we’re beautiful, for our sin is covered by His redemptive work at Calvary. Otherwise, the truth of who we really are is enough to make anyone regurgitate. Give it some thought.

Gary

Joe South could sure sing it back in 1958. The title was, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.”

If I could be you, if you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside each other’s mind

If you could see you through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you’d be
Surprised to see
That you’ve been blind

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
And before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Does the Bible address this concept? Glad you asked.

John 7:24 

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Romans 2:3 

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Give it some thought.

Gary

My boss was standing there looking at the broken saddle under the logging truck that I was operating.  He asked me, “You know what your problem is, Gary? You drive too slowly and load too lightly.” As he was walking away, his statement was processed and the meaning came to my frontal lobe. Then I realized he wanted me to load lighter and slow down. That’s the way he communicated with me and it hurt my head. I never liked riddles. Just give me the facts.

Speaking of facts, here are a few. See if you can understand them.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Is that clear? Give it some consideration.

Gary

My son who ended up with four masters’ degrees never had geometry. He never understood how that happened, because anyone on a trajectory for college would definitely have had high school geometry. He told me he often would have dreams that the authorities would catch up with him and make him go back to high school.

The message in this illustration is the fact that many things can be missing from our youth, but not be a deterrent to our successes in life.

Case in point is Sampson. He certainly messed up his formative years, but ended his life successfully. He prayed at the end and did the will of God. We find him on the wall of faith in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:32-33

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

End well. Success is only a prayer away. Don’t let wasted years hinder you. Give it some careful consideration.

Gary

There is nothing that can be said by mathematical symbols and relations which cannot also be said by words.  The converse, however, is false.  Much that can be and is said by words cannot successfully be put into equations, because it is nonsense.  C. Truesdell

This was stated by a mathematician, natural philosopher, and historian of science. Don’t worry if it hurt your head, because it hurt mine also.

Thankfully, God didn’t give us algebraic equations to understand Him. He gave us words. Case in point:

Hebrews 4:12 

For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Matthew 24:35 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.

With heartfelt prayer on our parts, Scripture can be understood even by a caveman. Give it a read.

Gary

Just before a long holiday weekend, a minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars also in the queue. Finally, the attendant motioned the minister toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “I’m so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”

The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”

Hebrews 2:3

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Psalm 13:5

But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Ready or not, the last minute is approaching. Give it some thought.

Gary