A Moment of Clarity

June 26

(Psalms 73:1-20 NIV)  “A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. {2} But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. {3} For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. {4} They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. {5} They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. {6} Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. {7} From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. {8} They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. {9} Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. {10} Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. {11} They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" {12} This is what the wicked are like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth. {13} Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. {14} All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. {15} If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. {16} When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me {17} till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. {18} Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. {19} How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! {20} As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.”

Sometimes we look at the narrow road of Jesus and wish it was more like the wide road of the world. Our feet can begin to slip off of the path of life. Those who spit in God’s face, live in luxury. Wealth and power come their way. There doesn’t appear to be any justice in this world; no scale on which godliness outweighs sin. We can begin to envy those who have much more than we do. Their lives appear carefree and their possessions increase. The pleasures they prescribe become more attractive by the day. And then, in God’s presence, we have a moment of clarity. The veil is pulled away and we catch a glimpse of the end. We see that they are the ones on slippery ground. Our feet are on the Rock. Their road leads to destruction and oblivion. Our path leads to eternal life and paradise. Stay on the Jesus way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day