John 9:4 says, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
Many great works have been done by men that worked day and night to accomplish them. I am reminded of the Battle of Trenton. After leaving Valley Forge on Christmas Day, while other people were celebrating, the Hessians in Trenton—specifically, the ill-clad Continental Army under the leadership of George Washington—crossed the Delaware River, and on the morning of December 26, 1776 scored a great victory against the British. This was a much-needed victory that changed the direction of the Revolutionary War.
When Jesus spoke these words He was in the process of healing a blind man. Jesus had an urgency in His ministry. He knew He had only a few short years to accomplish all that the Father had sent Him to do.
He knew that He was the Light of the world. Every moment counted. By the time He hung on the cross—the exact time that had been prophesied—He was able to truthfully and rightfully say, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Think with me a moment about the night that is coming when no man can work. Jesus made the statement, “…as long as I am in the world.” The time came when He went to the Father. His work was finished and He sat down at the right hand of the Father. It is true He is coming back and has more work to do. There is coming a night when you and I will close our eyes to the light of this world. The day of work will be over. The record will then stand complete. Any changes to that record that we might desire must be made now. This is the day to work. Every day counts.
This can be a fearful thought. We can look back over our life and see so many mistakes and shortcomings. Paul encouraged the Philippians to take courage in this matter in Chapter 1, verse 6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus was in constant fellowship with the Father as He did His work. When He left He sent the Holy Spirit to be constantly with us. John 14:16-17 says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but you know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
In Jeremiah 17:5-8, we see a picture of man trusting in man, and living a dried-up life. There was a tree in Israel that I had a chance to see. It grew beside a dried-up stream bed. It was actually alive in the desert. Our rabbi told us the secret of its survival. He pointed out the dried-up roots that were exposed to the sandy stream bed. When a rain came, bringing a flash flood, the stream bed would be full of water for a few hours. This only happened once or twice a year. In those few hours, the roots were able to take in enough water to sustain life until the next flood. In verse 7, we see the blessed man that trusts in the Lord living by the waters. Let’s live in Christ, following the Spirit, drinking the fresh water all the time, and fearing not the night that cometh!
What a privilege to have our spiritual roots grow deep enough so that we are able to drink from the water of the river of life. Thank you, Larry, for another thought provoking and inspiring post.