Eternal Approach

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

It’s hard to say that verse without hearing the song that has become so closely associated with it. It is a joyous phrase. One that comes to mind, at least for me, primarily in those times when I am low and fearful of what lies ahead.

But, recently, in the midst of a lot of physical ailments I’ve been dealing with in this “summer of pain” (Sorry. I probably sound like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh) it occurred to me that this verse is an everyday verse.

Not just a good-day verse.

The Lord’s Infinite Creativity

There are some things that the scriptures say that are just really easy to gloss over. The verse that says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”, is one of those. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Yeah, I give lip service to the idea that we should give thanks in everything.

But, really? Is the Lord also talking about the really tough days? The really painful, dark days?

When I think carefully about that opening verse which says, “This is the day…“, I wonder if it might actually be talking about today?

That is kind of shocking to me.

Logically, the Lord has created every day. There isn’t one day that He makes and another that He doesn’t.

Nor is there a day when He’s in control and another day when He’s not.

Nor is there any day when the details of that day are made in a cookie-cutter fashion. As in an assembly line. So that one day is not really any different than another day.

Even though it might seem like it is.

You know, like we say, “Same crap, different day.” As if we are stuck in an uncaring, impersonal universe that doesn’t give a rat’s rear end about us. And would chew us up and spit us out if it would get half a chance.

Yet, actually, that is what we tend to think a lot of times. We act like a bunch of Theists rather than children of the living God. We act like the guys that think God is just a great watchmaker who built the whole universe, wound it up, and then walked away.

Leaving us to fend for ourselves.

And, practically speaking, that is how we act.

But, what if that’s totally wrong?

A New and Wonderful Law

I mean, what if, there is a really good reason to rejoice in this day. Not just “seize the day” as the secular world says; but to actually rejoice in it. Like a kid on Christmas morning.

Which brings to mind another verse which says, “… for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

I have to admit. That verse has helped me a lot lately. To think that the Lord Himself is my strength. And that He wants me to be joyful.

Whoa! Not in the place of fear. Not in the place of depression. But in a place of joy!

And, by the way, even the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon suffered from depression. I’ve read that in his own words. So don’t think any of us are above it. None of us are.

We need to understand that we live by different laws now.

Think about how a hang-glider can soar above the clouds. It does so, not because it has nullified the law of gravity, but because the law of aerodynamics allows it to supersede that law.

As Christians, we now live by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, the perfect law of liberty, and the law of the Spirit.

Maybe we should come up with another law. Let’s call it, “The Law of Joy“.

Now there’s a law I can celebrate every day. Simply because, each day, the Lord has created a new and infinitely bright and joyful day for us.

A day which has been creatively called, “Today”.