I have wondered for so long the ironic contrast between the life of a tree and the life of a man of whom was given “dominion…over all the earth.” (Genesis 1:26). A native tree grows in the jungle of an untamed and uncultivated wilderness, subject to the hostility of the surrounding inauspicious atmosphere. While the man, the greatest and grandest of God’s creation created in the likeness of the Father and the Son, was provided with all that was necessary and was given “the Lord [as his] shepherd” never to be left wanting. The Lord, “leadeth [man] to lie down in green pastures…beside still waters…and into the paths of righteousness for his names sake.” (see Psalms 23).
They both grow old. The tree growing up tall into the sky with roots penetrating deep down the earth, and the man into becoming a successful dominant being in the world of competitive power. In their growing they both passed the tests of time and the tremendous opposition of nature and man-made adversities.
However, as life follows the forward movement of time and seasons, the tree becomes even taller and sturdy; its trunk even becoming stronger and undefeatable by nature’s fury, with branches able to withstand natural calamities, excepting manmade disasters. They can live thousands of years.
And what of man? In the short span of its time in mortality, when the unwanted label of seniority becomes evident, man deteriorates and its physical vitality starts to recoil and shrink. Soon he is to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” but “fear no evil” ever clinging to the assurance that the Lord is with him preparing “a table before [him] in the presence of [his] enemies.” In the process of surviving the sanctifying swelter of adversity attendant to aging, lingering afflictions, and anguish of pain, walking along the seemingly impenetrable crammed celestial highway, the only strength that keeps him to stand tall is the uplifting and comforting promise that “goodness and mercy shall follow [him] all the days of [his] life, and [he] will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.” (see Psalms 23).
They both grow old. The tree growing up tall into the sky with roots penetrating deep down the earth, and the man into becoming a successful dominant being in the world of competitive power. In their growing they both passed the tests of time and the tremendous opposition of nature and man-made adversities.
However, as life follows the forward movement of time and seasons, the tree becomes even taller and sturdy; its trunk even becoming stronger and undefeatable by nature’s fury, with branches able to withstand natural calamities, excepting manmade disasters. They can live thousands of years.
And what of man? In the short span of its time in mortality, when the unwanted label of seniority becomes evident, man deteriorates and its physical vitality starts to recoil and shrink. Soon he is to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” but “fear no evil” ever clinging to the assurance that the Lord is with him preparing “a table before [him] in the presence of [his] enemies.” In the process of surviving the sanctifying swelter of adversity attendant to aging, lingering afflictions, and anguish of pain, walking along the seemingly impenetrable crammed celestial highway, the only strength that keeps him to stand tall is the uplifting and comforting promise that “goodness and mercy shall follow [him] all the days of [his] life, and [he] will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.” (see Psalms 23).
 |
| 2000 year old tree in Africa |
Thus, while the tree enjoys the glory of its enduring growth and longer life in its space in the telestial environment, the man, like the tree, tries to drive its roots deep into the fertile field of the gospel and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” (Isaiah 40:29). And though a tree lives thousands of years, yet man, with the Lord, is ushered into eternity.
Job, “the man in the land of Uz,…perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1),” and a very wealthy man, described as “the greatest of all the men of the east (Job 1:3)”was tried with physical illness and pain of enormity, losing all that he possessed even including his children. Nevertheless, in the quiver of losing everything he calmly said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). And no matter his confusion why God did sorely tried him, and despite being impelled by his very own wife to surrender his integrity and “curse God and die (Job 2:9);” the cruel accusations from among his friends; the travesty and ridicule by those who were thrilled in his ruin, he did not waivered his faith in the Lord for he knew then, as he bore witness of the living Lord and His Second Coming, and his own personal resurrection saying: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (Job 19:25-26).”
While I so appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the tree as it grows up with increasing strength into the green horizon, no longer did my heart envy for I know that though my physical life deteriorates in so short a time in mortality, it is only temporary. The tests and trials of life are but constants to spiritual growing into a sanctified state on the other side of the veil where eternal power, might and dominion are reserved by no less than the Father of us all and the creator of the tree and man; heaven and earth, to those who, like Job, endured well to the end.
I am not yet as Job, but as I contemplate on the ills of my mortal journey and the preservation of my life until this time of my 66th year of an enduring race through life, I can’t help but acknowledge with deepest gratitude to Heavenly Father in earnest prayer:
O, Father, before Thee and Thy eternal heavens I pray
With deepest feelings of thanksgiving, ever in my yearning heart,
Encompassed by Thy eternal love, kindness and mercy,
Through each passing day of my life’s mortal journey.
Ever in my soul, I thank Thee, for Thy divine power,
Which saved my life in its dying moments from infancy,
Forward to my growing years and ordeals of maturity,
And through the waning days and refining tests of seniority.
I thank Thee, for every moment of joy and gladness
Thou gavest me, along the path in this challenging earthly sojourn.
Grateful as always for the edifying experiences
That sustained me in my battles with the adversary.
In my sinfulness, and human weaknesses and frailties
Thou hast always been forever forgiving and loving;
In the depths of humility and my ever grateful heart, therefore,
I express my most profound thanks for Thy forbearance and compassion.
Father in Heaven, how grateful I am for the Atonement
Of Thine only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ and His redeeming love and mercy,
Giving me the faith and hope for a glorious resurrection,
If I but follow the covenant path and the conditions of repentance and obedience.
In flashes of Thy Divine light, I express gratitude to Thee,
For guiding me, through the Holy Ghost, away from the dark tunnels
That obscured the track of my voyage into the realms of eternity,
Clearing the way to the inviting flickers of eternal exaltation.
I thank Thee, O, Father for the trust and confidence
Thou hast in me as to have me ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
Grateful as well for an even greater trust of having a family of my own
And the glorious promise of being sealed together forever.
Heavenly Father, at this time of my life when intensifying trials are evident
I pray that Thou mayest grant for me a stronger heart and an enduring soul.
Please help me in mine unbelief; guide me through the Holy Ghost,
To live a life of service in righteousness and in truth to the end.
Help me that I may continue to live in faithfulness and obedience to Thy commands,
And allow me to consecrate my life in service to Thy kingdom and Thy people.
Bestow upon me the spiritual gift of power to withstand the refining tests of life
Now remaining as I move into the abating cycle of life attendant to old age.
In the process of surviving the sanctifying swelter of adversity,
I ask for Thy inspiration that I may not in any way shrink from my fight.
Let my family life be in accord with the pattern that Thou hast provided
For us to live by in unity, harmony, peace and love.
Dear Heavenly Father, I most humbly pray, as I submit my honest petitions to Thy divine will.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The dawn of my 66th birthday commenced with hugs and kisses and words of love from my dearest wife---Letty---as early as 2:00 AM, whose unbounded love has always been reflected by her thoughtfulness and ability to remember the most memorable days of each of our lives.
Job, “the man in the land of Uz,…perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1),” and a very wealthy man, described as “the greatest of all the men of the east (Job 1:3)”was tried with physical illness and pain of enormity, losing all that he possessed even including his children. Nevertheless, in the quiver of losing everything he calmly said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). And no matter his confusion why God did sorely tried him, and despite being impelled by his very own wife to surrender his integrity and “curse God and die (Job 2:9);” the cruel accusations from among his friends; the travesty and ridicule by those who were thrilled in his ruin, he did not waivered his faith in the Lord for he knew then, as he bore witness of the living Lord and His Second Coming, and his own personal resurrection saying: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (Job 19:25-26).”
While I so appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the tree as it grows up with increasing strength into the green horizon, no longer did my heart envy for I know that though my physical life deteriorates in so short a time in mortality, it is only temporary. The tests and trials of life are but constants to spiritual growing into a sanctified state on the other side of the veil where eternal power, might and dominion are reserved by no less than the Father of us all and the creator of the tree and man; heaven and earth, to those who, like Job, endured well to the end.
I am not yet as Job, but as I contemplate on the ills of my mortal journey and the preservation of my life until this time of my 66th year of an enduring race through life, I can’t help but acknowledge with deepest gratitude to Heavenly Father in earnest prayer:
O, Father, before Thee and Thy eternal heavens I pray
With deepest feelings of thanksgiving, ever in my yearning heart,
Encompassed by Thy eternal love, kindness and mercy,
Through each passing day of my life’s mortal journey.
Ever in my soul, I thank Thee, for Thy divine power,
Which saved my life in its dying moments from infancy,
Forward to my growing years and ordeals of maturity,
And through the waning days and refining tests of seniority.
I thank Thee, for every moment of joy and gladness
Thou gavest me, along the path in this challenging earthly sojourn.
Grateful as always for the edifying experiences
That sustained me in my battles with the adversary.
In my sinfulness, and human weaknesses and frailties
Thou hast always been forever forgiving and loving;
In the depths of humility and my ever grateful heart, therefore,
I express my most profound thanks for Thy forbearance and compassion.
Father in Heaven, how grateful I am for the Atonement
Of Thine only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ and His redeeming love and mercy,
Giving me the faith and hope for a glorious resurrection,
If I but follow the covenant path and the conditions of repentance and obedience.
In flashes of Thy Divine light, I express gratitude to Thee,
For guiding me, through the Holy Ghost, away from the dark tunnels
That obscured the track of my voyage into the realms of eternity,
Clearing the way to the inviting flickers of eternal exaltation.
I thank Thee, O, Father for the trust and confidence
Thou hast in me as to have me ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
Grateful as well for an even greater trust of having a family of my own
And the glorious promise of being sealed together forever.
Heavenly Father, at this time of my life when intensifying trials are evident
I pray that Thou mayest grant for me a stronger heart and an enduring soul.
Please help me in mine unbelief; guide me through the Holy Ghost,
To live a life of service in righteousness and in truth to the end.
Help me that I may continue to live in faithfulness and obedience to Thy commands,
And allow me to consecrate my life in service to Thy kingdom and Thy people.
Bestow upon me the spiritual gift of power to withstand the refining tests of life
Now remaining as I move into the abating cycle of life attendant to old age.
In the process of surviving the sanctifying swelter of adversity,
I ask for Thy inspiration that I may not in any way shrink from my fight.
Let my family life be in accord with the pattern that Thou hast provided
For us to live by in unity, harmony, peace and love.
Dear Heavenly Father, I most humbly pray, as I submit my honest petitions to Thy divine will.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The dawn of my 66th birthday commenced with hugs and kisses and words of love from my dearest wife---Letty---as early as 2:00 AM, whose unbounded love has always been reflected by her thoughtfulness and ability to remember the most memorable days of each of our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment