Humans are tiring, but...

Isaiah 40:27-31 Humans are tiring, but...
The Chinese philosopher Mencius told that human nature is fundamentally good. But the bible tells that humans are born in evil and they grow in evil. If humans are born in good, kindergartens must be the kingdom of heaven. But there is jealousy, hatred, envy, lie and greed even in children's world.
Therefore human world is tired from kindergarten to graduate school. That is, human world is no the kingdom of heaven but almost the hell. Therefore Buddhists tells that humans have to leave the world in order to get real peace, real joy and real happiness. So they build their temples in the remote mountains. And the tired people go to the Buddhist temples in order to get real peace, real rest and real joy. I think you and I sometimes thought, "I'd like to go anywhere in the remote place !"
If this world or Canada or Korea is the kingdom of heaven, why people think like that ? They feel tired so that they think, "I'd like to go anywhere in the remote places !" They have immigrated into Canada because they were tired in Korea. But Canada is also tiring country because sinners live in Canada like in Korea.
People think, "If I go to the church, I can get real rest !" But see. There are full of sinners even in the church. Christians are not angels but sinners, This church has problems and that church has problems. This person has problems and that person has problems. Therefore they feel tired even in the church and they go away from the church.
If we cannot get real peace and real rest in the church, where can we get real peace and real rest ? At this time Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) It means ; when you come to the church you have to try to get real peace from Jesus not from imperfect humans.
Brothers and sisters, if you do not meet Jesus but only humans in the church, you become tired in the end. They are not angels but sinners even though they treated you very well. If you think that they give you real rest, it is really misunderstanding and shortcut to the failure and temptation.
Of course, the fellowship between the church members is important. But righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is more important. (Rom 14:17) Trusting each others is important. But trusting God is more important. Receiving peace from humans is important. But receiving peace from God is more important.
The Korean church in the foreign country is the good place for each members to receive help from each others. But receiving help from God is more important. People sometimes make us tired, disappointed and irritated. If we do not look up to God but humans in the church, we become
tired in the end.
The purpose of attending the church is not to meet only humans but God. Think. We pray for God's help not for human help, don't we ? It is not the human but God who leads us to the kingdom of heaven. The bible tells about the essence of humans like this, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it ?" (Jer 17:9)
In my ministry, I sometimes meet this kind of person saying, "Pastor, I am in temptation because of that person. I am very tired because of that person." At this time I say to them, "I understand. There is no one righteous, not even one. (Rom 3:10) People tire us. If we look up to humans, we become tired. Therefore don't look up to humans but God. And get strength from God. Bible tells, 'Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.' (Psalms 146:3) 'O house of Israel, trust in the Lord - he is there help and shield.' (Psalms 115:9) 'Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.' (Psalms 114:8)"
In this foreign land, we sometimes need help from same Koreans who have same culture and same language. So people come to the church because they want to get help from the church. They meet people in the church and have relation with the people in the church. And they become tired and disappointed. If you say, "I feel tired !" because of the people, you are foolish. Keep this in mind. Real rest, real comfort and real help do not belong to men but to God.
Let's see the Israelites. They were chosen people and children of God. They experienced many troubles in the foreign land Egypt. They had to encourage each others. But how about them ? Moses confessed very tiredly, "Lord, why have you brought this trouble on your servant ? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me ? If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now - if I have found favor in your eyes - and do not let me face my own ruin." (Num 11:11, 15)
If the Israelites obeyed Moses well, and if they were good and faithful, why did Moses confess like this ? That is, the Israelites were sinners who grumbled against Moses even though they were chosen by God. Moses was very tired because of the Israelites, so that he said to God, "Lord, put me to death." But Moses could do his mission because Moses looked up to God who always strengthened and comforted him.
It is same to us. We meet the children of God in the church. They have to love each others. But sometimes they tire each others. The things become more complicated. And they fall into temptation. So they think. "I had better not have come to the church ! I'd like to leave anywhere in the remote places !"
This is our reality because the church members are still sinners even though they were chosen by God. In other words, this world is tiring, and people tire each others. Bible tells, "All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, not the ear its fill of hearing." (Eccl 1:8)
This man is wearisome. And that man is wearisome. This place is wearisome. And that place is wearisome. We feel tired in Korea. And we feel tired in Canada. At this time we have to meet our God who strengthen and encourage us. Or not, we become tired and fall into temptation.
Today's scripture says, "God will not grow tired or weary. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the week. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall ; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles ; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint." (Isa 40:28-31)
And the Lord says, "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." (Jer 31:25) Today I pray that you do not fall into temptation or get tired because of humans. And I pray that you will soar on wings like eagles. Amen !