Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 23, 2012

“Banning Alarm Clocks and Surprise Parties”
“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life…no need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; He’ll keep you safe and sound." – Proverbs 3:21, 25-26 (MSG)

I would like to meet the person who invented the alarm clock–and torture them! How about making them watch 24 hours of the Family Feud, or something like that? Why would anyone create something so sinister as to rouse a person out of his or her well-earned sleep?
And surprise parties? Who thought that one up? Isn’t it bad enough that one has to be reminded that they are another year older? No, someone had to come up with the idea that other people need to join in on one’s misery and then lead them into cardiac arrest on top of it!
Cynicism aside, Solomon’s contention here should be considered. I am tired of all the “doomsday” advocates that see world destruction around every corner. I remember the panic that Y2K stirred—even from Christians who were convinced it was the end of the world. Now it is the Mayan Calendar, predicting the end of the world will be this year. And then there are those who believe that we are destroying the planet with our reckless living. Should we be good stewards of our planet? By all means, yes. We have a responsibility to take care of what we have been given—the earth included. In fact, the Book of Genesis reminds us that in the very beginning man was given this assignment and we still have that responsibility.
Clear thinking and Common Sense tells me that God created this world and He still knows how to take of it! In reality, the only “doomsday” that we need to be concerned about is our own personal one! And you do not need an alarm clock or a surprise party for that—you just need to trust and believe in Jesus Christ! And when life throws its worst you can cling to the promise; “…God will be right there with you; He’ll keep you safe and sound.”
In fact, this is a very vivid reminder that we have One who has promised us that He would take care of our needs and be with us in and through every situation we encounter! I like the following quote from A.W. Tozer:
“Christians have often been accused of being reactionary because they cannot show any enthusiasm for the latest scheme that someone thinks up to bring in the millennium.
Well, it is not to be wondered at. A true Christian's first hand acquaintance with God saves them from the nervous scramble in which the world is engaged and which is popularly touted as progress.
A real Christian is an odd number anyway. They feel supreme love for One whom they have never seen; talks like an old friend every day to Someone they cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties themselves in order to be full; admits they are wrong so they can be made right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when at their weakest; richest when at their poorest, and happiest when they should not be!
The Christian dies so they can live; gives away to keep; sees the invisible; hears the inaudible and knows that which passes human understanding.
The man or woman who has met God is not looking for something, they have found it. They are not searching for light--upon them the light has already shined! Their religion is hearsay. They are not a copy, not a facsimile print; they are an original from the hand of the Holy Spirit.
They are waiting for a trumpet call, not a tin whistle to lead every new parade. They are waiting for the call that will set in motion a series of events that will result in a new heaven and a new earth!”
To that I say, “Amen!” And if you want my opinion – I think there should be a law banning both alarm clocks and surprise parties! I believe we will all be happier and healthier for it!
Pastor J. T. Carnell