Thoughts Concerning "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

If a book makes you weep, that's a sure sign of the profound impact the writing has. Cormac McCarthy's unique style of writing powerfully brings the reader close to the real world. Never have I experienced such clarity and reality while reading. Though other books have caused emotion in me, the results have not lingered nearly as much as with Cormac McCarthy's book "The Road".

As I consider this book and what it means to life, I really wish some of my closest, dearest Christian brothers and sisters would read it for there is so much I’d like to talk with you about. But then I think, this book contains such horrible scenes, why would I want to subject anyone to that? And here's my answer: I want you to see reality in a way that perhaps you've not ever seen before. I want you to not just know what depravity is but I want you to see it, but there is something much better, more wonderful that I want you to see, and you'll see it more acutely against the darkness. What I want you to see is perseverance sustained by love and hope, and good shining brighter next to the darkest abode. Though the story is tainted by lostness, good still shines through. This is reality, for our world contains many horrible scenes but it's not left alone –  thankfully, we are not in hell. God is here, and it’s only because of Him that we are not enduring eternal hell. He carries us through even in the darkest times, and we can trust that no matter how bad things might get He will sustain those who know Him for He will never leave us.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2

 

Whether it be the writing style that may annoy some readers, it's the disturbing subject matter that will greatly trouble those reading this very, very powerful book. And with this in mind, this book is not for everyone. For those curious about the book but not wanting to read it, or those considering reading it but wanting to know more about the book, the following links by Christians will give an overview of the book, information about Cormac McCarthy and his writing, and how the Bible is woven into the writing. The book was also made into a movie that closely resembles the book, but it fails to show the most valuable, powerful part of the book which is love and hope. Only McCarthy with his unique style of prose is able to do this.

Tim Challies' review - scroll down to "The Road"

http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/pulitzer-prize-winners

Mike Cosper's article about McCarthy's books and why Christians can benefit from his books

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/02/09/cormac-mccarthy-judges-in-the-american-canon/

'The Life We Long For" by James Hamilton
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/03/29/the-life-we-long-for-on-cormac-mccarthys-the-road/

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a

daily God shows me more of who He is. even though a passage may have been previously read or heard, He brings it to me in a new fresh way. today He showed me:

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.  I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.  Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 (ESV)

Who is God?


He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he (man) cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it.
God has done it, so that people fear before him.
That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. (the KJV makes this clearer to understand: "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.")

What does God desire of us?

That there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
That people fear before him.


Everything made by God is beautiful.

Yet we look around and see that not everything is beautiful.

Our lives are tainted with sin - everything that is ugly, dark, painful as well as our self-centerness and the things that take our minds away from God are all the result of sin.

But there is still beauty.  Whether it be tender love given by another person or a magnificent sight of God's creation or the many other ways that cause you to marvel, ponder, and smile, there is beauty.


God has not left us alone, His beauty is sprinkled throughout our lives and world.  He reveals just enough about Himself that we can begin to understand that He is clearly not like us. This understanding frees us from the many lies about God that penetrate our mind and world. His Providence and Sovereign control over everything frees us from the woes of this world bringing us hope and confidence knowing that for all who love God all things work together for the good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Knowing God, His character, His Attributes - all of this reveals His beauty in increasingly vibrant ways bringing us closer to how God created us before sin entered the world, thus making it possible for us to exceedingly enjoy God's gift to us.

 "that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."  

Keep me safe, my God / Preserve me, O God

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. Psalm 16:1 (NIV)

Most of the time I'm not really concerned about my safety. I feel very safe in my home, my town and my country. However, when traveling on the road I often pray for safety and when I arrive safely, I rejoice and thank God. But for other people their lives are less secure and safe, this verse is their common plea for help, their reminder of who they can trust.

This verse is the beginning of a prayer. It begins with a plea to God. The next ten verses of Psalm 16 continue the prayer giving much hope, confidence and assurance that God preserves those who are His.

As a Psalm of David, this Psalm is clearly David calling out for help to God. But this Psalm read in its entirety can also be Jesus speaking, and for us now as believers with Christ in us, this Psalm can be the words of you and me.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. (ESV)

Here we see Preserve me, O God used. Albert Barnes describes this as "guard me, save me, protect me" and he further explains "This language implies that there was imminent danger of some kind - perhaps, as the subsequent part of the psalm would indicate, danger in death. See Psalm 16:8-10. The idea here is, that God was able to preserve him from the impending danger, and that he might hope he would do it." 

One of the great names of God is “Preserver of man” and is found in the book of Job. “I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men* why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?” Job 7:20 KJV  Here we see Job who deeply loves and trusts God. He clearly knows God is a preserver of man.

A promise is also seen in Isaiah 49:7,8 that Jesus will be preserved “Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD who is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he has chosen you. Thus says the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you*, and give you for a covenant to the people, to establish the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;”

According to Charles Spurgeon: “This promise was to the letter fulfilled, both by providential deliverance and sustaining power, in the case of our Lord. Being preserved himself, he is able to restore the preserved of Israel, for we are "preserved in Christ Jesus and called." As one with him, the elect were preserved in his preservation, and we may view this mediatorial supplication as the petition of the Great High Priest for all those who are in him. The intercession recorded in John 17 is but an amplification of this cry, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." When he says, "preserve me," he means his members, his mystical body, himself, and all in him. But while we rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus used this prayer for his members, we must not forget that he employed it most surely for himself; he had so emptied himself, and so truly taken upon him the form of a servant, that as man he needed divine keeping even as we do, and often cried unto the strong for strength. Frequently on the mountain-top he breathed forth this desire, and on one occasion in almost the same words, he publicly prayed, "Father, save me from this hour." (John 12:27.) If Jesus looked out of himself for protection, how much more must we, his erring followers, do so!”*

O God refers to the name of God “El” which is the name the Lord Jesus used when under great weakness, as when he was on the cross, this was how he addressed the Mighty God, the Omnipotent (all powerful) Helper of his people. The use of “O God” is most appropriate when we are at our weakest state of despair.

 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (KJV)

For in you I take refuge, for in thee do I put my trust shows us full confidence that God will help. There is hope, assurance and confidence that God will take care of us, true believers in Christ. 

Matthew Henry beautifully magnifies this verse for us:

 "Preserve me, O God! from the deaths,

 and especially from the sins, to which I am continually exposed; for in thee, and in thee only, do I put my trust.’’ 

When you are at your lowest state can you cry to God in the same way as David? Those who receive Christ in their lives are eternally blessed with assurance that God is truly a “preserver of man”. The prophecy written in this Psalm 16 has been fulfilled for Christ has died for our sins and has been preserved for He rose on the third day and He continues to live. We can have the same confidence as David knowing that no matter how difficult things may get here on earth God preserves true believers. He protects us and keeps us safe and we can have full confidence that He will do so. Praise be to God for saving us for His eternal glory!

*emphasis is mine

The Power of the Cross

 

Growing up I didn't know the true meaning of Easter and even as one who attended Christian functions in early high school, I still didn't know the significance. For nearly 20 more years Easter only meant  family gatherings, Easter Egg Hunts and getting a new Spring dress. How sad to spend all those years not knowing the truth. Perhaps it's the sharp contrast of knowing the truth next to not knowing the truth that makes knowing the truth even more precious, more significant and more humbling to me. For if God had not opened my eyes to the truth I'd still be wandering down a lost path towards eternal hell. As each year passes my gratitude towards God increases as the significance and power of the cross becomes clearer and sharper and with this my heart becomes heavier as I grieve for my loved ones and others who are wandering down that lost path. 

Never cease to pray for the lost.

 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them

 is that they may be saved." Romans 10:1

Never cease to preach the gospel.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Take time now to ponder the significance of salvation and the power of the cross and  pray with humility, gratitude for God to touch your heart in a powerful way opening your eyes even more to the beauty and glory of His everlasting presence in your life.

The Power of the Cross by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day;
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
Chorus:
This the power of the cross!
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain written on your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin;
Every bitter thought, every evil deed,
Crowning you bloodstained brow.
Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath,
Quakes as the Maker bows his head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
“Finished”, the victory cry.
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live;
Won through your selfless love.
Last Chorus:
This the power of the cross,
Son of God slain for us.
What a love, what a cost,

http://lyricstranslate.com

http://lyricstranslate.com

Convicted to Change

"Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; 

but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."

 Jonathan Edwards

We all have things in our lives that give us problems. But in our selfish ways we're often oblivious to this until we are face to face with the problems these things cause and even then we may deny the problems until we reach a point where we're convicted that something has to change. That's where I am. For me it's that I have things that I absolutely do not need and they are getting in the way. Recently I've been very motivated to get rid of excess things around my home because my time has been wasted. Perhaps you can relate. Last week, I couldn't find something and I wasted hours searching for it because I had too many things to go through to find it and I still did not find it. Since then, almost daily, I've been wasting more time searching through things for this item, which is really crazy but even more convicting to me for I'm almost to the point where I'd accept a fire to destroy everything and then I could just start over! OK, that's getting extreme, but I'm just trying to emphasize how convicted I am to change. Jesus often reminds me:

 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy

 and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6: 19-29

I want more TIME. Time to spend on the important things which are the things that are pleasing and glorifying to my God, my Savior Jesus, the Lover of my soul. I thank Him for convicting me and bringing me to the point of extremity to change. I resolve to never lose one moment of time; but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

Perhaps God is convicting you to make changes in your life. It may be a change that will improve your health or something that will help you improve relationships with others. We all have areas in our lives that need improvement and many times the change needed seems impossible to accomplish but God can and does help us. Pray to Him, ask Him to help you, and trust that He will.

Perserve me, O God

Preserve me, O God – for in thee do I put my trust. Psalm 16:1 (KJV)

Last week while pondering on Psalm 16:1, my initial thoughts were of great gratitude to God for saving me from eternal hell. And as I thought further I considered the many ways God has protected me and my family from harm. This is truly remarkable for there is much pain and suffering in our world, yet God has blessed me in countless ways and preserving me for His Kingdom is the greatest blessing of all.

Then a new situation woke me up to why God had been drawing me to Psalm 16. Verse 1 is now not just a verse for reflection on what God has done for me but what God is doing now.

Preserve me, O God(!)– The cry is urgent. The need for help is deep. And the cry is to God for He is the only one who can help. Only God can protect me from the things that I am afraid of.

For in thee do I put my trust. – Trust is assurance that God will do as He promises. True followers of Christ trust that no matter how difficult things may get or seem, God is in control and there is no need to be afraid. I am secure. I rest in the security of Christ’s salvation, God’s preservation, and the Holy Spirit’s comfort.

For in you I take refuge. – God provides of safe place for those who trust Him. I need not fear, the time of difficulty will pass and I will reap blessings along the way.

Preserve me, O God – for in you I take refuge. Psalm 16:1 (ESV)

We can trust God to preserve and protect us. He hears the cries of those who trust Him, those who know that He is a refuge, a safe place from harm. God gets us through by drawing us closer to Him, strengthening our faith, and showing us His mighty works and His perfect purposes.

Psalm 16 is considered a Golden Psalm because of how precious and valuable it is for the devoted Christian. God’s Word is sprinkled throughout with many Golden Verses – Romans 8:28 is perhaps one of the most precious, golden verses for me. May God bless you as you draw near to Him, read His Word and gather precious gold He has for you.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

A Golden Psalm

It hasn’t been for lack of words or thoughts that I’ve not written for many months, but lack of time and discipline. Today this became a priority. God called me to sit still and write. And so I wrote and then God made it clear to me why I needed to do this now. So we’ll begin with Psalm 16.

Why Psalm 16? Because God has drawn me to this particular Psalm. Over the last many months I found myself going to Psalm 16 while reading the Bible on my iPod and as the verses became precious to me I highlighted them. Over time, nearly the entire Psalm was highlighted. Interestingly, when I referred to Matthew Henry’s commentary just a few days ago, I found that this Psalm is a Mitkim which means golden Psalm. I smile thinking about this since I have highlighted the verses golden yellow.

Something else I found interesting is how the Psalm reads very differently in the King James Version than it reads in the English Standard Version. It’s not that the meaning is really different but that it shows how easily we are affected by our understanding of words. This is actually beneficial for the meaning is much richer when both translations are read.

As I mentioned before, God made it clear why I needed to write now. The answers lies in the first verse. I will share more the next time I write.

May God bless you as you read and ponder on this wonderful Golden Psalm.


Psalm 16 KJV
1Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


This psalm is entitled Michtam, which some translate a golden psalm, a very precious one, more to be valued by us than gold, yea, than much fine gold, because it speaks so plainly of Christ and his resurrection, who is the true treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament. Matthew Henry


Psalm 16 ESV
A Miktam of David.
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is )fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.