"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." Luke 22:41-43
So many times, we try to go the other way, down an easy path, down a wide-open road, but the Lord leads us away from it for our good. We sometimes think it is cruel, but no, it is rather caring. We have no idea the glory that is to be shown to us, but while we are here, there is work to be done, and it must be complete. I will try to show you what I mean in a story I once heard. I will tell it with the best of my memory. Listen, there is a story of a woman who had many sorrows: her parents, husband, children, wealth, all were gone. In her great grief, she prayed for death, but death did not come. She would not take up any of her work for Christ, but she was down with heavy burdens and despair. Then one night, she had a dream, and in this dream she thought she had gone to heaven. Everything was perfect and glorious. She saw her husband and ran to him with eager joy, expecting a glad welcome. But strange to say, no answering joy shone on his face, only surprise and displeasure. "How did you come here?" He asked. "They did not say that you were to be sent for today. I didn't expect you for a long time yet." With a bitter cry, she turned from him to seek her parents. But instead of the tender love that her heart was longing for, she met from them only the same amazement and same surprised questions. "I'll go to my Saviour." She cried, "He will welcome me if no one else does." When she saw Christ, there was sweet and tender love in His look, but words throbbed with sorrow, as He said, "Child, child, who is doing your work down there?" Then at last, she understood. She had no right yet to be in heaven; her work was not finished; she had fled away from her duty.
This is one of the dangers of sorrow: that in our grief for those who are gone, we lose our interest in those who are living. However hard and great the work may be, never drop your task until the Master calls you by name, and then He shall take you away to be with Him for all eternity. That is our hope and joy to look up to, not the pain and suffering now. Look up unto the Lord and live, ask Him, and He will help you finish your work. We will enter into His rest, as He promised.
Finish thy work, the time is short; the sun is in the west, the night is coming down, until then, think not of rest. Rest? Finish thy work, then rest, until then rest never. The rest prepared for thee by God is rest forever. Finish thy work, then sit thee down on His pasture's hill, and of heaven's everlasting bliss, take thou thy fill. Finish thy work, then go in peace, life's battle fought and won; hear from the throne the Master's voice, "Well done! Well done!" Finish thy work, then take the harp, give praise to God above; sing a new song of mighty joy and endless love.
A devotion of work
May 8, 2002