"Ye... took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb 10:34)Once a Chinese missionary lost all his life's precious things while travelling in a train - his long-used Bible, his book of favourite hymns collected over the years, a diary eith the addresses of all his friends and all the notes of his messages. He was depressed. Then the Lord spoke to him. "My son, you lost your Bible but not the Author of the Bible; you lost the song book but not the songs I gave you in your heart. True, you lost your message notes but you didn't lose your actual message which is Myself (Christ). You lost your diary with the addresses of all your friends but you've not lost your friends." On hearing this, the missionary was greatly encouraged and started rejoicing.
Dear friend, perhaps you have recently lost your money, house, property, job, or something that was precious to you. Remember, you have not lost your God, the Author and Owner of all spiritual and material blessings. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (IIPeter 1:3)
When Job lost all his material blessings, his physical health and even his children, he clung tenaciously to his God - though even his wife suggested he give up the Lord. Eventually he came to know his God more intimately. "I have heard thee with the hearing of the ear. Now my eye seeth Thee," he says. He was also doubly blessed and became a wonderful witness for the Lord.
Let not the loss of earthly things upset us or make us doubt the goodness and faithfulness of our God.
- Late Pastor T.U. Thomas, in "Morning Manna"
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