We've had a dark, gloomy, rainy day here in northern California; the very best of people have times when the soul is in gloom and tempted to fear. Even our Lord Jesus knew what it's like to pray and to get no answer and to wonder why (see Psalm 22:1, 2). Hebrews 4:15 says that He "was in all points tempted like as we are." But let's note carefully: to be tempted to think that God is hard and won't listen and answer your prayer is not of itself sin; but to give in to the temptation and do what Job's wife tried to get him to do ("curse God, and die!")--that's sin (Job 2:9).
And yes, we must remember the warning that there are some prayers that God does not want to hear, for example, "He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination " (Prov. 28:9). That is true and it has frightened many people who have been overcome by temptation. But the transitive verb is what explains this apparently difficult text for sinners to understand: to "turn away [your] ear from hearing the law" is an act of deliberate rebellion, of despising the law of the Lord, of consciously, deliberately rejecting Him. The law of the Lord is "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25); therefore to deliberately turn away one's ear from it is to signal that he wants servitude, not "liberty," and wants to be banished from God, and God will give him what he wants!
But that's not you if you sincerely want deliverance from sin. The Lord Jesus assures you, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37). All Heaven is telling you to "come": "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let him who hears say 'Come.' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever wills, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). We pass on the invitation!
Even very long ago, the prophet said, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:32). That's the gospel invitation, speaking of these dangerous last days when people's hearts are "failing them for fear." Even if you feel under a burden of guilt, you are to come just as you are. Don't wait to try to fix yourself up first. Confess your unworthiness, your guilt, your fear. "Low at His feet lay your burden of carefulness," says the hymn; "High on His heart He will bear it for thee. Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, Trust for your trembling, and hope for our fear."
A dark, rainy day is just the time to re-read what make up the Lord's New Covenant promises to Abraham, your "father" in the faith (Gen. 12:2, 3). Those promises are yours if you will let the Lord Jesus give you some faith from His supply, for He gives "each one a measure (metron, Greek) of faith" (Rom. 12:3). Then you will sing the glad song, "There is sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright than glows in any earthly sky."
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.------------------------------
