Consider the Lilies

Pastor James May

CONSIDER THE LILIES

Matthew 6:26-29, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if man lived in a Utopian state? Have you seen the commercials on TV that begin by describing a place called “Perfect”?

In that place called “Perfect” there are no –

Automobile accidents
Disabling diseases
Overdue bills
Rebellious teenagers
Jobs that you hate
Jobs that you lose
Cars that break down
Houses that need painting
Long-winded preachers
And your dinner is always cooked just right and on time, every time.

Wouldn’t you like to live there!

Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind has searched for that perfect place. Inside the heart of hearts of each of us there is that innate desire to live in a perfect, sinless, pristine condition where the storms of life can never come. Oh, that such a place would exist!

But mankind has never attained unto that perfect state of life. In fact, it seems the harder we try, the farther we go from perfection.

Illustration:

John Quincy Adams held more important offices than anyone else in the history of the U.S. He served with distinction as president, senator, congressman, minister to major European powers, and participated in various capacities in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and events leading to the Civil War. Yet, at age 70, with much of that behind him, he wrote, "My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook."

Charles Sell, Unfinished Business, Multnomah, 1989, p. 233.

After a long absence from the stage, pianist Vladimir Horowitz was to perform in Chicago. Franz Mohr, the chief concert technician for Steinway and Sons, was assigned to make sure the piano was in perfect condition. He did so to the best of his ability, but wasn’t able to relax until Horowitz had given a brilliant rendering of his first number. As was his custom, the pianist left the stage -- but didn’t return. Mohr was summoned backstage. "Where have you been?" exclaimed Horowitz. "I cannot play again. The piano stool is far too high!" Mohr nervously inquired at to the size of the problem. Horowitz held up his hand, his thumb and forefinger about a quarter of an inch apart.

Today in the Word, March 25, 1993.

These are but two small examples of man’s inability to ever reach a place of perfection on his own terms.

The reason that man has such a strong inward desire to reach that place of perfection is because he was created into and destined to live in just such a place from the day that God formed him from the dust of the earth and breathed life in him.

Does a place called “Perfect” actually exist? Will mankind ever experience the bliss of the Garden of Eden once again? The answer of course is, yes! Such a place does exist, though it isn’t named “Perfect”. It’s called Heaven, or the New Jerusalem, and it