A Prescription for Life - Part 1

Not long ago I went to Walgreen’s to pick up a prescription for my wife. Because one of them contained a drug that has recently been placed on the market as an over-the-counter drug, the pharmacist directed me to the aisle containing the nonprescription form of a very similar drug. He said, “It’s just like it, except…” And, of course, he listed several things that were different. I was very amused at how easy it was to say it was identical except for the exceptions.

This morning we will begin a little series that was born out of this experience. The devil would love to convince us that his way of life is just the same as God’s way, with “just a few exceptions!” First, read the words of David:

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:1-7 ESV).

It’s easy to imagine that life could be better, especially when we are faced with the problem of bad things happening to good people. There is an old story that is humorous, but with an excellent point. It seems a little boy went into a grocery store and asked the clerk for a box of Duz detergent. The clerk said, “What do you need the detergent for?” The little boy replied, “I want to wash my dog.” The clerk said, “Well, son, that Duz detergent is pretty strong for washing a little dog.” The little boy said, “But that’s what I want.” The clerk said, “Well, okay, if you’re sure. But you need to be careful when you wash your dog in it. That Duz detergent is very strong. It might kill him.” About a week later the little boy came back into the store and the clerk recognized him and asked, “Son, how’s your dog?” The little boy said, “He’s dead.” The clerk replied, “Oh, I’m sorry, but I told you that Duz detergent was awfully strong and that it might kill him.” The little boy shook his head and said, “I don’t think it was the Duz detergent that killed him. I think it was the rinse cycle that got him.”

There are a few practical things we ought to recognize in this first part of our study concerning the real prescription for joy in our lives:

1. First, bad things happen to us in life because the devil is a real, evil spiritual being who is out to get us. We all must be aware that the devil is real. He is evil. He is a spiritual being. He is powerful. And he is out to get us! “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around...looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith...” (I Pet. 5:8-9).

2. Second, bad things happen to us in life also because we live in an imperfect world where imperfect things happen all the time. Cars break down, our health goes bad, and money sometimes runs out. It just happens in life and to the best of people.

3. Third, we also experience bad things in life because we sin. This is something that most of us don’t like to face up to or recognize, but it’s true! “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap! We always reap what we sow! This is God’s ordained law in life.” (Gal. 6:7-8). If we sow good things, we will reap good things. If we sow bad, we will reap bad.