Meditation for Monday
Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh. Luke 6:21
Some of the memories from our childhood can remain vivid throughout our lives, including special ‘snapshots’ of specific moments, pictures that remain as clear in our mind’s eye as if they had occurred a few hours ago. For me, one such moment occurred when I was a lad attending my grandfather’s funeral, seated with several hundred others in a big old church building almost directly across the highway from where my grandfather had died. Perry Rockwood, who had been a good friend of my grandfather, was the speaker. I recall very little of what he said, of course, but I remember that at one point, as he spoke of the wonderful place to which his friend had gone, he smiled. My first reaction was to wonder, at such a tragic time, how anyone could smile. I was feeling the loss of my dear grandfather very deeply, and that smile looked to me to be so out of place. But as I look back upon it now, I am thankful that Mr. Rockwood could see beyond the tears and tragedy to a place where laughter and joy will never cease. It is that place of which the Lord Jesus spoke in today’s text.
We know little of hunger in our part of the world, although it does exist. But we are the minority; for most in this world, the prospect of three square meals a day is just a dream. Many of the Lord’s people live in places where food is scarce, or too expensive, and hunger is common. For them, the concept of always being filled with good food is wonderful. The gnawing pangs of deprivation in their empty bellies will be forever banished someday, and they long for such a time. It will come. The Lord Jesus has promised it. For us who have plenty to eat, this promise applies to a hunger that goes beyond that which – as the poet said – is banished with bacon and beans. Many lonely souls hunger for the company of loved ones, of friends, of anybody. Many folks in uncomfortable situations hunger for liberty and fulfilment. Other people hunger for things that they love but are unable to have. All such hunger comes under the proclamation of the Lord Jesus to be forever removed, to be replaced with satisfaction and comfort.
As I move through my senior years, I find more and more familiar names in the daily obituary column. People I knew in one way or another are dying; for example, an obituary a few days ago was of a man for whom I worked in the newsroom of a daily paper, a man for whim I have many fond memories. His family is grieving now. So are the families of many people we know, including many of the Lord’s people. But for the Lord’s people, losing a loved one to death is not a final hopeless loss. It always comes with the reminder that our grief is temporary and will be replaced with the laughter of reunion in the Glory.
Treasure the promises of the Lord Jesus when He speaks of a better place than this. He told us so that we can be comforted and encouraged. – Jim MacIntosh