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
