I heard the siren and I knew that the rescue squad
vehicle was near. I opened the blinds at the window here in my office and sure
enough there it was, and it stopped across the street from my house. I knew the
elderly lady and her son who lived down the street, so I hurriedly dressed and
went over to see how she was doing. She is ninety-seven years old and was not
doing well at all. She was taken to the hospital by the rescue squad. Her son
was emotional in expressing his concern for his beloved mother, and I can
understand why he would feel that way.
I have mixed feelings when I hear the sound of a siren.
In this case, it was the rescue squad coming to the aid of someone in distress.
First of all, I am thankful that such help is available. One of the reasons we
live where we do is because of the availability of medical assistance. It is
encouraging to know that when one needs help in a hurry, it is there. On the
other hand, when I hear the sirens of such vehicles, I know that someone is in
need of medical care, or even it might be indicative that someone has died.
Life is like that. Each day we involve ourselves in our
work and our family affairs. The sun is shinning, and life goes on. Though we
might have some aches and pains, we go about our business. There is no need of
emergency type medical help. The children are doing well in school, and parents
are proud and healthy. Sounds of happiness can be heard as the family gathers
around the table for an evening meal together. Then, someone is injured or a
heart attack occurs. The mountaintop experiences come crashing down. In the
dark valley of life, someone becomes incapacitated or even death occurs. Life
has turned upside down. To the Christian, there is the blessed assurance that
God is always there. The writer of Hebrews in Chapter Thirteen and in Verses Five
and Six exclaims, “…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor
forsake you.’” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
In 1
Kings 20, we have record of Ben-Hadad
and the Syrians fighting against Israel, and the Israelites fought
valiantly, and the Syrians fled. A servant of the King of Syria surmised that
they lost the battle because “[t]heir gods are gods of the hills. Therefore
they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely
we will be stronger than they” (verse 23). Wrong! “Then a man of God came and
spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the Lord: ‘Because the Syrians
have said, “The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the Valleys,”
therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall
know I am the Lord” (verse 28). Needless to say, the Israelites again won the
battle against the Syrians. You see, God was and is the God of the valley as
well as of the hills. We, too, must understand that in life, He will be with us
in the good times, but He will also be with us in the bad times. Thanks to the
Lord God for His infinite grace, love and mercy.
God On The Mountain
Life is easy when
you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace
of mind like you’ve never known.
But then things
change and you’re down in the valley.
Don’t lose faith for
you’re never alone.
For the God on the
mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong,
He’ll make it right.
And the God of the
good times
is still God in the
bad times.
The God of the day is
still God in the night.
You talk of faith
when you’re up on the mountain.
Oh but the talk comes
easy when life’s at its best.
But it’s down in the
valley of trials and temptation
That’s when faith is
really put to the test.
For the God on the
mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong,
He’ll make it right.
And the God of the
good times
is still God in the
bad times.
The God of the day is
still God in the night.
For the God on the
mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong,
He’ll make it right.
And the God of the
good times
is still God in the
bad times.
The God of the day is
still God in the night.
The God of the day is
still God in the night.
Words and Music by
Tracy G. Dartt
