FOOD FOR YOUR JOURNEY
27 October
THE THREE GREAT TRAGEDIES
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in and choking the Word and becoming unfruitful.
Mark 4:19
In this verse of scripture God brings before us three great tragedies to consider:
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Distraction.
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Abstraction.
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Attraction.
1. Distraction can be attributed to the cares of this world. Some hear the Word of God and are filled with gladness but sadly there is no root established and the cares of daily living take over and replace the newly discovered joy. As William MacDonald has put it:
Instead of receiving the Word of God with gladness, it should have been received with deep repentance.
2. Abstraction can be attributed to the drive to gain riches and wealth here on earth rather than laying up treasures in Heaven. There is a deceitfulness which often accompanies the striving for riches in that they provide a smokescreen behind which one can hide which is temporary to say the least because it is tinged with pride and vanity. Self importance and conceitedness are what push Jesus to one side saying:
I can do it on my own.
3. Attraction can be attributed to replacing Godly pursuits, such as serious study of the Scriptures, having a meaningful prayer life and an urgent desire to spread the Gospel, with a preoccupation of worldly interests. Those affected lose interest in spiritual things and sadly, are even known to abandon any claim to be Christians at all.
Is it any wonder that these three things are called Tragedies?
Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.
Jeremiah 3:22
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:7
What a merciful God and Father we have! Even though we have removed ourselves from Him, He pleads with us and indeed makes a way back for us to return to Him.