by David Brenneman
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
What comes to all of us are joys and tribulations. We all see these as the ups and downs of our lives.
We face things that by and large appear to be greater than our minds can fathom. We cannot make sense of the why behind it.
Much of this nation is wondering why God allows the things that have happened to it to have happened at all. The raw power of flooding that has erased the buildings, the historic sites, roadways, even cemeteries from existence. Why would a loving God allow such things?
My Dear Reader, while yes there has been a loss of life, God has not ceased being God. His interests are not founded nor grounded in our possessions.
Jesus's ministry time on Earth, His betrayal, death, burial and resurrection weren't for anyone's things. Jesus came to seek and save the lost in the world.
His interest is in a right relationship with Him. Things can be replaced.
A life that leaves this world steps into eternity. The destination being set in the land of the living. We choose either Heaven or Hell based on our relationship with Jesus in the here and now.
Job lost everything that the world thought was important. His own Wife thought he should wonder about his standing before God. 3 of his 4 friends offered the worst kind of advice to Job on how to view what was allowed by the Lord Jesus to happen to him.
The only interest of the One who went through what He did on calvary is to be in a loving relationship with you. It's not about anything else but that. Your past doesn't matter. Jesus had all of humanity on His mind when He was on the cross. He knew every sordid detail of your life and yet died for you anyway. He didn't die for anything you own.
Why do things like natural disasters happen? The simplest answer is to get our minds turned to Jesus and to draw us close to Him.
Our souls were the reason He bled and died, not houses, cars or land. Not heirlooms not priceless things.
You mean everything to Jesus.
Yes. You.
Jesus is offering a comfort to your heart that you cannot know nor understand outside of a relationship with Him.
He wants first place in the lives of those who love Him and who are saved in Christ.
Is this so hard to comprehend? You get into a relationship isn't the one you love worthy of being first place in your life?
The promises of God aren't for those who aren't saved yet...save the promise that should you give your life to Jesus and ask Him to become the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...that He will save you.
Will He restore what has been lost? Maybe. After someone comes to Christ for salvation priorities change. Things that once were important no longer are. Other things that didn't used to be important now are.
A wild newsflash for everyone...suppose the Rapture of the Church happens later today. This world will be destroyed by fire in about 1007 years.
The Bible says that there's a 7 year Great Tribulation coming. A time of trouble upon the Earth that's never been seen before and never will again after it happens. At the end of this comes the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ upon this Earth. He will personally rule the world. At the end of this will be the war to end all wars that people are so worried about. Satan will be released from his prison and gather mankind against Jesus, Jesus will speak a word and the battle will be over. End of human history.
In your here and now your life's choices are really important. The worst kind of feeling is that of loneliness. Isolation. While I go through this life, physically, I might be alone at times. Spiritually I can never know loneliness because Jesus promised never to leave me nor forsake me.
This relationship is worth everything that I might hold in high regard.
As a song goes...
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wants to own
All I once thought gain, I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Now my heart's desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Oh to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death, my Lord
So with You to live and never die
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
I love You, Lord
-Knowing You Jesus
Song by Graham Kendrick.
What will it be for you?
What is so important in your life that you keep putting a hand up at Jesus saying you're ok. You got this thing called life and you don't need Him. Why would you risk eternity on what you won't let go of?
Heaven is a promise.
Hell is too.
You decide.
Why do things like all these troubles in life happen? To cause you and I to stop and consider what's really important. A right relationship with Jesus.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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