Cast!

Cast!

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 KJV

As I read the verse before us today, I look at the word 'cast'. One definition is: 'an act of throwing something forcefully'. Think about it for a moment: what am I asked to cast? Life is full of weights, burdens and concerns. When man fell for the devil's lie in the Garden of Eden, we gave up God's peace for the devil's machinations. Now we are subject to burdens that were never meant to be placed on us. Now, man's heart is distracted by so many concerns and worries: he has to fret about what to eat, drink and put on; where to live and how to afford even the basic necessities of life. Yes, these may be legitimate concerns, but who, by worry alone, is able to wish all he desired into existence? If worry alone can't change it, why then do we worry so much? 

There are a number of reasons why we worry, but due to time and space constraints, we will focus on what today's extract shows. First, it is about the knowledge of the help that is available for me. If I don't know that I can cast it away and let other people bear them, I will continue to suffer in silence. God never intended for me to be burdened by life's demands, and that is why he gave me dominion over all He created. That is His perfect will, and that is also the second point. Even with man's disobedience, God still had a plan for restoration and that is why He introduces Himself here as the burden-bearer. If He can't hold them, his nature prevents him from lying. If He says He can bear them, it is foolishness for me not to at least take Him at His Word. 

The offer is made: take the step and cast ALL, not some of your cares. He is able to bear all. We sometimes think that God is like earthly rich men who have no time for the mundane. God is interested in the tiniest facet of my life, and if He could give up His only begotten Son for my sins, even before I was physically born to at least commit the sins, then there is no part of me: past, present and future that He is not interested in. All I have to do is simply cast all unto Him. At least, He offered. I didn't go looking; He came to me. I didn't know what was available, but His love wouldn't let go until I came to know Him. Now that I know Him, all of Him is available. I have access to the fullness of the riches of His grace and mercy. That is responsibility and of course accountability. 

Now, this is where it gets interesting. God asks me to cast all my cares on Him, and He will sustain me. Check out the meaning of sustain: 'strengthen or support physically or mentally' and let me also add spiritually. If I have cast all, what then should I be holding on to? What God gives me in exchange for the burden I could not bear is a shared responsibility. He partners with me to impact the earth, which was the original plan before sin came. The work is massive; intellect, ability and connections are secondary. What is key first and foremost is that God is the one leading and directing the work, scope and impact. Whatever it is that He ordains is what He is obligated to sustain. Because I am 'free', it does not mean that I can now do what I like or when and how I like it.

I answer to the One who took up my burdens and gave me a fresh lease of life, a new purpose and direction and a reason to really live. That means that if I will get the fullness of these blessings, I have to align with the conditions. It is the righteous that He has promised will not be moved. He did not say that they will not be shaken or threatened, but they WILL NOT BE MOVED. Even when life happens to the righteous, and the winds blow and the storms beat against the house, all of thess things are defined from the perspective of the One who holds them in His hand. If He plants the righteous, who is strong enough to uproot them? I owe it to God then to sort out my rooting, so that I can settle my standing. Earthly impact and eternal life depend on that understanding. God's time of favour is here.