This is EARTH, it is not HEAVEN.
How we know this statement to be true, yet often times we somehow forget this reality in the midst of earthly lots. We often times get into a habit of thinking that as God's people, we should not have to endure the sufferings of this world. That somehow, because we are His, we should be prone to the lots of sin and suffering. Have we forgotten that this world is fallen? Earth is plagued with sin, and it is only by God's grace that we were snatched out of the condemnation it still remains within?
This is earth, sinful earth, where sin and the ramifications of it are present. Why than do we question God's grace or love when we go through hard times? When the ceiling is all you can see from your position in bed, when the doctor brings grave news, when suffering is felt, when your heart is broken, when finances seem weak, when the car won't start, when the job lets you down, when relationships are wounded, when disappointments block the sun, why do we immediately turn to doubting His goodness? Dear sinner, within this earth is sin, it is only by His goodness that you have been saved from the eternal captivity of it. Our eternity has been changed, has been given promised hope by His blood. There remains a rest for the people of God, that rest within heaven. Nevertheless, this day, we still remain on earth.
In speaking to His disciples, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30). Jesus promised those who are His the blessings of eternal life, but not the escape of earthly persecutions. To those who lose their lives to find their lives in Him, He promises the blessing of fellowship with Himself, but He does not promise escape from hard times, instead He said, "WITH PERSECUTIONS". Life will bring persecutions, earthly lots will be dealt to us, and we will have to endure the casualties of this life; but oh for His sweet love that brings us comfort as we lay our difficulties before His throne of grace! Oh for His sweet love that promises us of that age to come! Heaven awaits. We ought to come continually, boldly to His throne-room in prayer as we cast before Him our earthly cares, that He may give us heavenly hope. When we turn our eyes from the temporal problems, to the eternal joy of fellowship with Thee, this short time of earth will soon be forgotten and heaven will be all we can see for all of eternity.
May we bring before Him this day our earthly persecutions, that He may give us eyes to see beyond the present difficulties to the coming light of His return. True, this is earth, but Heaven is coming. Amen.
amen amen amen! Michelle you've so been on my heart. Do you have an address there? I see God has given you as of this writing (oct 31) Eight blogs to share in October...which tells me God is showing and moving in you through being far from home and also the hardship of sometimes doing His work and dealing with "persecutions". But I am praying for you and your words bless me, time and time again. You are wise for your years and this is Gods work being completed in you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your heart so openly and honestly.
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Jan
Thank you for reading and encourageing me Jan! Knowing that you read what i share, and that you take the time to comment, means more than you will ever know. I think about you every time i post. I dont have a direct address here in Uganda, but you could send something to the church, addressed under my name and i would get it. The church address is Calvary Chapel Entebbe, P.O. Box 837, Entebbe, Uganda, there are no zip codes here. so somehow it gets here but if you want to include the village name, maybe in ( ) it is Nakiwogo.
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