Are your wonderful deeds of any use to
the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Can those in the grave
declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in
the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful
deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your
righteousness? Psalm 88: 10-12 NLT
These verses contain the same
rhetorical question re-worded six times. It is like the psalmist
wants to play on God's vanity. If God doesn't save him, then how will
God be praised? If God doesn't do something to help, then how will
God be worshipped? The dead don't do those things!
There is the argument: don't let me
die, Lord, for then I can't be your follower!
Certainly, there are some things we
cannot wait until life after death to do. One of them is praising
God. The vision that John received in the book of Revelation suggests
we will spend eternity worshipping God. Should we wait until then to
do this? Of course not! But many self-avowed Christians don't attend
church. How can we truly worship if we don't do so in the community
of faith?
What other things have you put off,
knowing you may do them in eternity? How about forgiving someone who
has hurt you deeply (not forgetting, forgiving)? Re-kindling a dying
relationship? Being at peace with your neighbors? Take some time this
day to think about these things.
God, you are worth praising and
worshipping while we are living. Help us to remember to do so often
as you are an awesome God! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims
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