Fellowship At The Ranch

Pastor Ed Jones

My closest friend over the years is also a pastor of a small church in West Texas. A few years ago he was the officiant at a funeral. Recalling that day, he wrote the following:

People made their way to the family sitting in front of the caskets to express their condolences. I had just finished doing a funeral for a husband and a wife killed in a car wreck. The funeral director, someone I have worked with for many years, came up to me, shook my hand and stood beside me. After what seemed like a very long time he asked, “What did you mean by that scripture you used?”

There is so much in life we do not understand. An accident that claimed the lives of a husband and a wife that left their children suddenly without any parents is one of the big ones. I used Proverbs 3:5-6 as my text for the service:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

I found out later that the funeral director’s son was also in a car wreck that left him paralyzed.

There is so much in our life that we simply do not understand.

A young lady in our church was in the hospital because of a very rare disease. She asked me, “One in almost a million people contract this disease. Why me?”

When life does not make sense believers in Jesus Christ can always run to our heavenly Father.

The Prophet Elisha’s servant woke up one morning to find that he and his master were surrounded by a large army—horses and chariots—of the enemies of Israel, the Arameans.

“Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

What Elisha told his servant may not have made sense to him because all he could see with his eyes was the problem. So Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” He opened his eyes and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.

Will you trust God even if you cannot see what is going on? What tomorrow may bring? Will you trust the God who saved you for eternity with the temporary things in your life? Will you trust the God who willingly gave up His only Son for you for all your needs? Will you trust God?

Ed Jones pastors Fellowship at the Ranch Church at Robson Ranch. This nondenominational church meets at the Robson Clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Visit Fellowship’s website: www.fellowshipattheranchchurch.com for information.