What are you looking at? (1)

What a privilege it is to be reconciled to God through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! How awesome to have received the Spirit of God; who is not a spirit of bondage and works fear in us, but who is the Holy Spirit through whom we may call the Almighty “Abba”! Furthermore, this is not by anything we have done or have achieved, but by Christ’s own faith that is living in us (Col 1:20; Gal 4:6; Eph 2:8).

During the past week my mind was flooded with so many thoughts and ideas and as I was preparing for this weekend’s message, all of these thoughts fused into one. I believe that Father wants me to share with you an important principle regarding the difficult times all of us are facing today. Many Christians find themselves challenged immensely by our current economic situation and I honestly believe that our only solution is to focus on the Word and what it has to say for us for today (and YES, Scripture can still answer our questions, even when they are a bit ‘modern’). Jesus said the following:

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

Jesus did not deny the fact that we will have difficult times; in fact, He said that we will have “tribulation and trial and distress and frustration”. Then He goes on with a big BUT: He gives us the assurance that HE is our peace, that He is the perfect One and that He has already overcome the world (namely: everything). It goes even further: He has conquered the world “for you”! Therefore we have reason to be of “good cheer”, even in hard times. We just need to believe what Jesus said and embrace it.

I know, that when we are knee deep in tribulation, this might sound very optimistic or even a little loony. Yes, I am not in your shoes. Yes, I understand that things might be awfully tough. But I urge you to put aside your frustration and really LOOK at Him (in His Word) and receive (without resistance) the Truth. When you do this, I can guarantee you a breakthrough. Why can I say this with so much confidence? What gives me the right to assume such a position? The Word is very clear on this: Christ has overcome any obstacle you will ever have to face and He has finished everything that is needed for you to live Life to the fullest!

Paul had a good idea what tribulation was all about. When we recall his story it is hard to image that any person could go through what he had to endure (2Cor 11:24-33) and still carry on (especially in the way he did). I believe the key to his way of dealing with hard times can be found in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. "(8) We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. (9) We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. (10) From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again, (11) as you help us by means of your prayers for us. So it will be that the many prayers for us will be answered, and God will bless us; and many will raise their voices to him in thanksgiving for us."

According to Paul things never happen to us “because of” but always “so that”. You see; there is something about the love of God that we find difficult to understand. It is the Father’s passion to see us grow into who/what He created us (in Christ) to be; we are His Body and His Body cannot be revealed unless He Himself is revealed in us and to us. We can only reveal Him after He reveals Himself. We are also not able to build for ourselves a fulfilling and content life (God knows how we’ve tried), it is only in Christ who IS Life that we may truly LIVE. This brings me to the question: what is life without Life?

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul goes on to say the following: “(16) Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. (17) For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], (18) Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”

Again the “looking” principle: focusing on Him Who is in me and in Whom I am (the branch focusing on the Vine). And as we see Him, we are being transformed to His image, also here in the natural, to experience the real/authentic good life which He intended for us (Eph 2:10) right from the start.

So be of good cheer, my friend. Things are happening around you and sometimes even to you, but it so that you might grow in the knowledge of Him more and more. It is so that you may see and experience His great love for you. He is everything you will ever need in this life to be truly happy/content/fulfilled.

Stop looking at everything around you, and look at Him, seek Him and be at peace. He has already overcome the world for you!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank my good friend, Belene, who is a great help in writing the articles on this blog. Thank you so much!

Have a great day and remember: He loves you!