Have
you ever felt like you were missing something? I remember one day
taking off my wedding band to do some greasy work in the garage,
only later to discover it was missing. I had purposefully taken it
off, so it wouldn't be damaged during my task. I valued the ring. It
represented the love of my life. It symbolized the love my wife had
for me. Note the word "had". Just kidding! She still loved
me even though my wedding band was missing...she just wasn't happy
with my apparent carelessness. However, I had not been careless! I
had cared enough to take it off in the first place! I was trying to
honor my wife by not damaging the gift she had given me on our
wedding day. I was anything but careless! None the less, the ring
was missing.
I
searched high and low for that ring! I retraced my steps. I
contemplated every possible place the ring could have rolled,
fallen, or been hidden by other things. Despite my best efforts, I
came up empty. The ring was missing, and my hopes of ever finding
the ring were diminishing quickly. So, I prayed, and believed I
would find it. Remember, the Bible says that we must only have the
faith the size of a mustard seed...my faith wasn't much bigger! Days
went by. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into almost a month,
and the ring was still missing! My wife couldn't believe I had been
so careless...I assured her again and again, I had NOT been
careless! But the fact remained, my wedding ring was not on my
finger where it was supposed to be!
As my hope seemed to dwindle to almost nothing, and the possibility
of ever finding the ring seemed minute, something wonderful
happened! Getting ready for work one morning, I went into the closet
to find a pair of slacks to wear. I chose a pair I hadn't worn in
quite some time. I took them into the laundry room and laid them on
the ironing board. As I began ironing I thought about the missing
ring. How stupid I had been! My wife was right! I HAD BEEN CARELESS!
It was my fault! I should have been more careful. My mistake had
hurt her heart. She felt as if the loss of the wedding ring was
somehow indicative of my commitment to our marriage. She couldn't
imagine ever not knowing wear the ring I gave her was! That ring
represented the closeness of our hearts!
After
having ironed the right leg of the slacks, I started on the left. It
was frustrating, not knowing where the ring was! I had blown it
alright! About the moment I was thinking that thought, I heard a
distinctive "clinking" noise as I passed the iron over the
left pocket of the slacks. I froze. Like a wave, the memory of that
fateful day came rushing over me! I had been wearing those slacks! I
reached my hand into the pocket, and there it was! I took my wedding
ring out, and immediately put it on my finger! I praised the Lord! I
was so overjoyed by my discovery! I quickly shared the discovery
with my wife...we rejoiced together! What had been missing, was
found! Sadness had turned to joy! I didn't have to sleep on the
couch anymore! My universe was set back in order! The question which
before could not be answered, was no longer of any consequence...it
had been answered by the discovery of the ring!
Interesting,
but how often are we missing something in our lives that is of far
greater value? How often do we purport to serve God, and do His
will, yet when the smoke clears, we didn't have the ability to
follow through with our aspirations?! The Apostle Paul wrote of
struggles in this area. He indicated that he did the things he
didn't want to do, and the things he wanted to do, he didn't do!
Why?! Why do we do what we don't want to do?! What is missing in our
lives which would bring us victory over sin, and help us please our
Father in Heaven? Of course, we need the Holy Spirit. It must be HIM
working through us. But basically, it all boils down to TRUST!
The
Bible plainly tells us the answer. "Without FAITH it is
impossible to please God". Now we must also remember,
"faith without works is dead, in and of itself". You see,
I did what was right in taking off my wedding ring...my work in that
regard was good. However, when I lost sight of the ring, my work
lost its validity! You might think it a proper time to quote,
"walk by faith and not by sight"...I agree! We MUST walk
by faith and not by sight. But, there is a HUGE difference between
physical and spiritual sight! Physical sight of the ring was not
necessary to win the victory of faith! I had to have spiritual sight
of the ring! As the days passed, I began to lose spiritual sight of
the ring, and believe it would never again be upon my finger. As a
result, the defense of my actions to my wife regarding the ring
began to be less and less feasible. She thought I was trying to
cover my lack of responsibility! Unfortunately, I even began
to believe she was right! I almost lost what is of far greater value
than the ring...MY HOPE! How is your hope today? Are you full of
HOPE? The Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things
HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen". What we are
often missing in life is our HOPE! You see, my wife hoped in me to
find the ring...that wasn't the answer. The only HOPE with any
PROMISE was to be found in God! I had to believe, in order to
receive! By hoping in the Lord, the evidence which had not been
seen, was manifested!
What
makes us lose heart? What causes our faith to wane, and wax cold?
Without a doubt...IT IS DOUBT! The enemy of our faith is doubt. The
Word of God instructs us not to hope in man. If we hope in man, we
will be like a dried up bush in the desert! We are to HOPE ONLY in
the Lord! If we do that, we will be like the tree planted by the
water! When the heat comes, our leaves will not fall off. We will
produce fruit continually! God taught me and my wife a life lesson
with the wedding ring. He taught us to trust HIM for the answer! He
taught us to not give up, regardless of what we see in the physical.
He reminded us to look at things (even small ones) through spiritual
eyes! He taught us that when we are starting to feel hopeless, what
we are often missing is faith, that is rooted and grounded in love.
Perfect love casts out ALL FEAR (and doubt)! "Trust the Lord
with all of your heart! Lean not on your own understanding!
Acknowledge HIM in ALL of your ways, and He WILL direct your
paths!"
Until
next time, be blessed with God's BEST!
Your
Partner in Ministry,
Greg McCowen
Covenant
Life Fellowship - Lubbock Church - (806) 771-4244
