"To And Fro"

"O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?" (Psalms 74:1) Everything needs to have a beginning; and every day we have a new beginning in Christ, each and every day. Some might not look at it that way, but it's absolutely true; your yesterday does not count for today, and your tomorrow will be different than your today. Looking at this verse should remind us how we tend to blow things out of proportion, thinking that the world revolves around us, and making giant ordeals out of small insignificant trials; trials that we look back upon and think nothing of, as if it was just like a dream that we once had. I can't help but think of the disciples freaking out in the storm as Jesus slept; worried that their Master did not really have any concern whatsoever whether they lived or died, and all that He cared about was catching a few moments of sleep. Things sure appear differently once the ordeal is done and over with, but there is a lesson to be learned, even from the smallest insignificant trials we face day to day. On the other hand, when it comes to the really big trials, like the kind where your life gets devastated or you get your whole life turned upside down; then it's time to really change your perspective, and realize how insignificant your life is here, compared to eternity. There really is no comparison between this life and what awaits us on the other side of this life; absolutely night and day in comparison; and even then, that does not compare the two, at all! I heard this story about how stupid sheep are, and how 1,500 sheep all followed one sheep that jumped over a cliff. The shepherd only lost 400 of them, because after the first 400 had landed and died, the rest all survived by landing on the pile of the dead. Isn't it funny how God sees us as His sheep? Do you think it's just because He is the Good Shepherd, or maybe it's really because we are all just that stupid? The beginning of wisdom is knowing just how little we know, and how important it is that we are in His care...
"I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your alters. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace -his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is -free and undeserved." (Romans 11:1-6) NLT