“For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”” (Hebrews 10:37–38, ESV)
When Harry met Megan, it was love at first sight. Harry was smitten. Megan, too, fell deeply in love with Harry. Their marriage two years later was celebrated by all. When two children came along over the next seven years, many felt that Harry and Megan were the perfect couple, destined for a long life of treasured memories reminiscent of a love story.
While traveling home for Christmas one year, the car carrying Harry and Megan and their two boys was involved in an accident. There was ice under the snow that covered the road. They skidded into the oncoming lane and were t-boned by a car coming the other direction. Air bags saved Megan, surely. However, at the time, air bags were a security feature limited to the front seat in some cars. Their oldest child, Darrell, suffered a terrible brain injury. He died a week later.
When they lost Darrell, some say the spark left the marriage of Harry and Megan. Megan became angry and often lashed out. Harry became sullen and depressed and retreated inside himself. Then, Harry began to drink heavily. Family and friends knew that Harry and Megan were trying to cope with the death of their son. Still, Megan grew more and more angry, and Harry’s alcoholism sped out of control.
Twelve years and sixteen days after their marriage vows were taken, Megan divorced Harry. She cited in court that he was a miserable drunk. Harry’s lawyer made it clear that Megan was filled with anger and resentment and often lashed out at Harry and others. The reasons for the divorce were obvious to all. However, what was not plainly seen were the consequences of that accident on the spiritual life of the family.
Following the death of their son Darrell, Harry and Megan pulled back from friends and family. They also pulled back from God. Rather than looking to God for strength and love and help and hope, Harry retreated into alcoholism. Megan was consumed by anger. Over the first year, they stopped going to worship. Their other son was pulled out of Sunday School. Over the next couple of years, they only came to worship at Christmas and Easter. Then, they stopped going to church altogether. Prayers were no longer said at the dinner table. Some family suggested that Harry and Megan blamed God for the loss of their son. Others supported the right of Megan and Harry to do whatever they needed to do to get over their grief. Needless to say, Harry and Megan’s mourning slowly but inevitably pushed God out of their lives. The divorce was the culmination of a lost love between husband and wife coupled with the loss of a desire to keep their marriage vows to God. Alcoholism and psychological problems plague the two people even now.
What happened to Harry and Megan’s marriage was indicative of their relationship with God. After the accident, Harry and Megan’s lives began to unravel. Not seeking solace in the arms of God, both looked elsewhere for the strength to go on. Harry found comfort in alcohol. Megan became angry and bitter as she sought to cope with the losses. Over time, not only did their marriage unravel, their love for God faded away.
Accidents, medical emergencies, deaths, job loss, and so many more things occur to people in life. Some people respond to these traumas by becoming closer to God. Others pull away from God as they look for other sources of comfort for their grief. However, it’s not just suffering people who pull away from God. Rich people can pull away from God as they get wrapped up in business affairs or financial issues. Parents can stop spending time with God as their responsibilities to family increase. Those who have jobs with long hours may start sleeping in on Sunday mornings. College students may get so caught up in their studies and college life that they ignore spiritual pursuits. Successful churches may even get so wrapped up in a drive for new building construction that they place too much emphasis on a fund drive and too little emphasis on God’s blessings.
The scripture for today is a reminder that God “takes no pleasure” when a person or church or nation “shrinks back” from faithful living (Hebrews 10:38). When death is ready to take you, will you be looking for Jesus or just regretful of how far you have pulled back from a relationship with God? Have the years brought you closer to God? Have successes pulled your attention away from God? Do you enjoy praying with God or remember when you used to pray more?
Just as two people can “fall out of love” after a car accident, even faithful people can lose their love for God. The scripture from Hebrews acknowledges that some people “shrink back” from God precisely when they should be holding on tightly! When this happens, God finds “no pleasure” in the lost relationship.
If you look at today’s scripture a little more closely, it implies that God finds joy in those who remain close to Him. God loves the faith of the righteous. Jesus is coming back in the end times. When that happens, what will He find? Will there be faith in the world? Will people have forgotten Jesus with the passing years? When Jesus comes for you as you breathe your last, will He see love in your eyes or a shipwrecked faith in your past? That’s up to you.
While traveling home for Christmas one year, the car carrying Harry and Megan and their two boys was involved in an accident. There was ice under the snow that covered the road. They skidded into the oncoming lane and were t-boned by a car coming the other direction. Air bags saved Megan, surely. However, at the time, air bags were a security feature limited to the front seat in some cars. Their oldest child, Darrell, suffered a terrible brain injury. He died a week later.
When they lost Darrell, some say the spark left the marriage of Harry and Megan. Megan became angry and often lashed out. Harry became sullen and depressed and retreated inside himself. Then, Harry began to drink heavily. Family and friends knew that Harry and Megan were trying to cope with the death of their son. Still, Megan grew more and more angry, and Harry’s alcoholism sped out of control.
Twelve years and sixteen days after their marriage vows were taken, Megan divorced Harry. She cited in court that he was a miserable drunk. Harry’s lawyer made it clear that Megan was filled with anger and resentment and often lashed out at Harry and others. The reasons for the divorce were obvious to all. However, what was not plainly seen were the consequences of that accident on the spiritual life of the family.
Following the death of their son Darrell, Harry and Megan pulled back from friends and family. They also pulled back from God. Rather than looking to God for strength and love and help and hope, Harry retreated into alcoholism. Megan was consumed by anger. Over the first year, they stopped going to worship. Their other son was pulled out of Sunday School. Over the next couple of years, they only came to worship at Christmas and Easter. Then, they stopped going to church altogether. Prayers were no longer said at the dinner table. Some family suggested that Harry and Megan blamed God for the loss of their son. Others supported the right of Megan and Harry to do whatever they needed to do to get over their grief. Needless to say, Harry and Megan’s mourning slowly but inevitably pushed God out of their lives. The divorce was the culmination of a lost love between husband and wife coupled with the loss of a desire to keep their marriage vows to God. Alcoholism and psychological problems plague the two people even now.
What happened to Harry and Megan’s marriage was indicative of their relationship with God. After the accident, Harry and Megan’s lives began to unravel. Not seeking solace in the arms of God, both looked elsewhere for the strength to go on. Harry found comfort in alcohol. Megan became angry and bitter as she sought to cope with the losses. Over time, not only did their marriage unravel, their love for God faded away.
Accidents, medical emergencies, deaths, job loss, and so many more things occur to people in life. Some people respond to these traumas by becoming closer to God. Others pull away from God as they look for other sources of comfort for their grief. However, it’s not just suffering people who pull away from God. Rich people can pull away from God as they get wrapped up in business affairs or financial issues. Parents can stop spending time with God as their responsibilities to family increase. Those who have jobs with long hours may start sleeping in on Sunday mornings. College students may get so caught up in their studies and college life that they ignore spiritual pursuits. Successful churches may even get so wrapped up in a drive for new building construction that they place too much emphasis on a fund drive and too little emphasis on God’s blessings.
The scripture for today is a reminder that God “takes no pleasure” when a person or church or nation “shrinks back” from faithful living (Hebrews 10:38). When death is ready to take you, will you be looking for Jesus or just regretful of how far you have pulled back from a relationship with God? Have the years brought you closer to God? Have successes pulled your attention away from God? Do you enjoy praying with God or remember when you used to pray more?
Just as two people can “fall out of love” after a car accident, even faithful people can lose their love for God. The scripture from Hebrews acknowledges that some people “shrink back” from God precisely when they should be holding on tightly! When this happens, God finds “no pleasure” in the lost relationship.
If you look at today’s scripture a little more closely, it implies that God finds joy in those who remain close to Him. God loves the faith of the righteous. Jesus is coming back in the end times. When that happens, what will He find? Will there be faith in the world? Will people have forgotten Jesus with the passing years? When Jesus comes for you as you breathe your last, will He see love in your eyes or a shipwrecked faith in your past? That’s up to you.