WAKE
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Many people consider goodness and mercy to be God’s provided and appointed companions for every saint. Perhaps this is as it should be. But, why do people always assume or expect God to be the giver in the relationship? It’s apparent in scripture that God has our well being at heart; otherwise we would simply live, die, and suffer eternal torment in a Devil’s hell. And certainly, God has proven in our lives and in other’s the unfathomable depth of His blessings. Shouldn’t God receive some love and obedience in return for the love and sacrifice on our behalf? Besides, God has given to us Himself in the Holy Spirit already. Why should we expect goodness and mercy, as well? If we turn fast enough can we catch a glimpse of their presence?
This verse sounds more like a promise of a man to God rather than a blessing from God. Consider a boat as it travels across the water. As a boat moves through the water it creates a disturbance and leaves a pattern of displacement behind it; in other words, it leaves a wake. What do our lives leave behind as we “move” through the world? If we could see the wake left behind, what would we see? What is the source and substance of the disturbance we make? When we leave a place, situation, or assembly what might people say about us? How do they feel after our passing? Are they left with a double handful of goodness or dumbfounded by the mercy we demonstrate?
Surely, goodness and mercy should follow a Christian, just as they followed Christ!
Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
Luke 23:40-43 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
If there were only two words to describe God these two would be quite sufficient. His goodness demands justice and His mercy reveals love. In the heart of the saint lie the same attributes. As Christ acted in goodness and mercy He also reveals the same through us. We are to live our lives in Christ and Christ in us. How can we live without goodness and mercy? Do we see the pattern of their influence in our lives? The size of the wake is dependent on the magnitude of disturbance. How is the wake of our life? Can the wake of goodness and mercy be seen from the far shores of heaven or can we barely perceive the affect of our passing life?
As people confront us in our daily routine are they aware of goodness and mercy peeking over our shoulders? Can they perceive before our passing the affect we will soon have in their lives? The world sees people with a devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other, and assumes whichever gains the most attention will define our behavior. Is the world confounded by our lack of divisive spirits and astounded to see goodness and mercy perched there as we walk away, instead?
Perhaps we get the best of both avenues of thought. Maybe goodness and mercy are blessings to be received and gifts to be given. Can God trust us to be diligent, obedient, and good stewards of such gifts?
Ephesians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Is your life stuck in a no wake zone, or are you going full throttle in Christ?
