Probably like most of you, each morning lately I open my eyes to the peace and normalcy of my room, the familiar pictures on my walls. I note the weather outside my window and smile at my little dog happily wagging her tail because mom is awake… All is in order in my little corner of the world until my heart sinks once again into the realization of the times that are upon us.
“Father.”
I reach for God’s word, for wisdom, for focus, for truth and hope.
“Father, show me your truth.”
I read once again about what He lovingly showed me during that great glimpse of His holiness years ago: Our entire earthly life here is but a brief “wink of an eye” compared to our overwhelmingly wonderful eternal destiny.
“For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison” (2 Cor 4:17).
These are troubling times, and yet they are certainly not the first ones. Time and again in past crisis people were sure Jesus’ return was upon them – but it wasn’t. Hopefully his coming is soon. I do believe He is coming soon. We may live to see the glory of His coming in the clouds of heaven and hear that triumphant trumpet blast – but we may not.
As we await His return, we are not unaware of the devices of the enemy (2 Cor 2:11) and I will continue to warn my brothers and sisters of his deceptions that are designed to destroy their precious souls. But rather than placing my focus on the workings of the one who has already been judged and whose days are numbered, rather than trying to figure out what dreadful evil he will bring next, I’m convicted this morning to walk in simple trust, resting in the fact that all is well in God’s throne room above where JOY reigns supreme. Because that is where our true citizenship is!
I received an encouraging email from a dear friend yesterday, who reminded me not to lose sight of the wonderful simplicity of our walk with God. Because it is there, and only there, that we will find the peace that passes understanding – and that peace is what the world is desperate to see!
My friend reminded me that, as believers, we have been called to simply be “the receivers, the responders, the displayers and dispensers of the love of God:
To receive—”He loves me—always, and I drink in his love.”
To respond—”Thank you, thank you!!”
To display—”I am resting and joyful in your love!”
To dispense—”God’s love is right there waiting for you to receive it!”
That is the whole essence of a Christian’s life!
Simplicity!”
He included Isaiah 8:10-17.
“Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.
But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.’
Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.
I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.“
May you hold onto the glorious hope that is yours in Jesus. May you walk in His love and peace today.
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13)
