Disappointment

Dan Kunz

Did you see it or were you disappointed?  A total eclipse of the sun is a fairly rare occurrence in most places.  They happen every few years, but are often in remote locations where very few people see them.  The eclipse this past week tracked right across the middle of America, so millions of people had access to it – unless it was cloudy where they were.  Were you disappointed?  The sky got a little darker in western Wisconsin where I live, but that was about it.  Clouds covered the sky and the sun as well.  It was somewhat disappointing.  Imagine the people, though, who spent thousands of dollars and traveled thousands of miles to experience the eclipse, only to have it blotted out by the clouds.  The ones who were interviewed on television tried to make it seem okay (they enjoyed the party atmosphere and all the hype), but you know they were disappointed.  In the U.S. we’ll have to wait another twenty years to have the experience again - maybe.

Imagine God’s Old Testament people.  They had anticipated the coming of the Savior for thousands of years.  They longed for his appearance and what he would do when he came.  Unfortunately, many of them looked for the wrong thing.  Many knew the Christ would conquer sin and death, the scourges of the human race from the time of Adam and Eve, but many others believed, mistakenly, the Christ would conquer the hated Romans and restore the glory of Israel and, once again, make it a powerful and independent nation.  The evidence was there.  They could see it.  Jesus fed thousands of people with a few fish and some bread.  Jesus healed many who had been sick or handicapped for years, some for their entire lives.  He even brought some people back from the dead!  Jesus must be The One.  They were sure of it.  They were disappointed.  He wasn’t the type of conqueror they anticipated.  He was hidden by their clouds of unbelief and stubbornness.

How about you?  For whom or what are you looking?  If you seek a dazzling ruler who makes this life everything you hoped it would be, you’ll be disappointed.  If you believe God’s chosen people will be healthy and wealthy and have every “wish” granted while on this earth, all you’ll see is clouds.  If, on the other hand, you’re anticipating a Savior who causes a total eclipse of sin, death, and hell for eternity, you’ll join with millions and billions of people over the ages who recognize the real Christ, The One who came to earth as a lowly human being, lived a perfect life (which we cannot), and died a horrible, excruciating death in our place, all in order for us to be with him for eternity!  The disappearance of mankind’s biggest enemies won’t be for a few fleeting moments, it will go on and on and on.  The excitement of a total eclipse forever!  We can’t begin to imagine the glory of it.  No wonder mere words can’t describe the wonder of heaven!

Human beings all learn disappointment at an early age, but only earthly disappointment.  When our eyes of faith are trained on the things of God, we’ll never be disappointed!  Joshua 23:14 “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”