When to Ponder and When to Stand
While it may not be every day that we ponder mysteries such as the basics of
life, faith, and meaning, we can find ourselves wondering about these things
whenever life seems to stop working for us.
When does life stop working?
It can appear not to be working when we do our very best and still get
fired.
Life can seem to be going downhill when we lose our house, have an auto
accident, when we're diagnosed with something very bad, or when a personal
relationship falls apart.
And any or all of these things will eventually happen to most of us. Life
is like that. Not everything is "good" according to our evaluations of good
and bad. Who wants pain or unhappiness? Who wants to be broke, lonely,
diseased or dying?
Let's face it, we're not so different from children who find it difficult to
understand why life can't be like the fairy tales, where everything always
turns out wonderfully and everyone lives happily ever after. And, as
children, we may begin to pout when things don't come around to our liking.
Oh, we may put up with trouble for a little while, trying to be good
soldiers. But in time we all get sick and tired of troubles, pain, and
difficulties. And then we get mad. Or worse, we start feeling sorry for
ourselves.
This is human nature at work.
It's normal to respond in a negative way to what we perceive as negative
circumstances. It's certainly normal to resist pain, to do everything in
our power to avoid shame and embarrassment, and to find some kind of a way
to just make life work. To get by somehow.
And then, of course, there's the pleasure factor, which is a whole different
story. But it factors right in as a very big part of the whole picture.
By nature, we'll usually try to move toward the things that please us and
away from the things that offer us little or no pleasure. And this isn't
all bad. God Himself has wired our minds and bodies this way -- in part,
for our survival and to enhance our chances of health and happiness.
For example, flowers often look and smell nice to us, pleasing the senses.
And things good for food also appear, taste, and smell good to us. On the
other hand, rotting things tend to smell and look bad to us. We're not
overly attracted to slimy things. And even some color combinations disturb
most of us. Many people are naturally repelled by spiders, scorpions and
snakes. We may be frightened by sudden loud roars, barking, or hissing.
Some of this is instinct and some is learned, but it all works out the same
way, to help us avoid danger and trouble in life.
In the very same way, we often avoid pain. But we can learn to endure a
little pain if we understand that it will bring us health, strength, or some
other good. We can learn to like or at least tolerate snakes, spiders, and
some "rotting" things (such as cheese or bread dough).
And this tolerating and "enduring" is what we need to do with life itself.
Faith enables us to put up with some circumstances that are undesirable
because we know that everything will be made right eventually. Lessons
learned in hardship can make us better people when we endure the hardship
with patience.
The Bible teaches, for example, that God Himself works all things out for
good for those who love and trust Him (Romans 8:28). Many examples of this
truth are recorded in the Scriptures. The question, then, arises: Do we
believe this statement and teaching of the Bible or not?
In my own life, I can say, Yes, I believe it's true. But then I find that I
still lose patience in traffic, sometimes lose confidence in trying
circumstances, and even lose my temper when really put to the test.
How can this be if I really believe God? I must be human, after all.
I know, that sounds silly or even sarcastic, doesn't it? But Christian
believers really can forget that we're human. We don't mean to forget.
It's just that in the heat of battle, we sometimes begin to expect a great
many supernatural things to happen. Some of us may even try to walk on
water or glow in the dark.
Reality check just ahead.
We need to remember, if we want to survive and succeed, that God is the
divine power and force in our lives, not us. He is perfect. We aren't. He
is all powerful. We're not very powerful. We need God. He doesn't need
us. We're seldom very holy, when it comes right down to it. But God is
always perfectly and utterly holy. We are weak but He is strong.
Jesus Christ is the impossible bridge between God and humankind. In Jesus,
who was utterly human, God Himself appeared on earth as never before. The
Bible actually says that the fullness of God's divine nature was (and is) in
Jesus Christ, revealing His invisible divine character, and accomplishing
things that human beings cannot do on their own. God was literally in
Christ reconciling the cosmos to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Jesus changed everything and He continues to change everything.
Yet we still find that pain and hunger and injustice exists -- and even
thrives -- on planet earth. In fact, we often have our own share of pain,
misery, failure, and injustice.
So we may find it difficult to always exude perfect faith. If we were truly
wise, we would always have perfect faith. After all, God never fails anyone
who trusts in Him. But He knows everything. He can see things with
eternity itself in view. We on the other hand can only see the now, if we
even see that. We cannot even see beyond the very day (or hour) in which we
live. Much less do we truly understand eternity.
If things don't work for me today, here and now, I may find it very
difficult to entertain any real hope for tomorrow or for an unknown
eternity. That's where faith comes in.
The apostle Paul experienced his share of pain and suffering while in the
service of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was beaten by Romans, stoned by
his own countrymen, wrongfully imprisoned, shipwrecked more than once, and
often mistrusted or openly rejected by other Christian believers. He
understood fear, loneliness, pain, confusion.
He once wrote, "As it is written: `For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'" (Romans 8:36)
Paul knew well what he was talking about. But that's not all he had to say
on the subject. He went on to write these words:
"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
In the ups and downs of Paul's life (read the New Testament book of Acts to
see some of it) he learned to trust God more and more. He learned to sing
while in prison chains. He learned to rejoice for his suffering and pain.
How could he do this?
Paul learned that the power and the faithfulness, and even the faith itself,
comes from Jesus. He wrote in another place: "I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Like anyone else, Paul's faith was tested. He had many opportunities to
wonder just what life was really all about. He had plenty of time to ponder
the meaning of life, as well as how and where faith in God really fits in.
Paul could see how pagans and other unbelievers lived. Some had a pretty
easy life. And many who truly believed in Jesus had a terrible existence
filled with suffering. Paul could see that faith in God does not guarantee
a soft and easy existence in this world. And yet Paul was able to not only
hang on to his faith, but actually grow stronger and more resolute in his
firm conviction that God's children had the best of all possible futures.
The "Secret"
The same Holy Spirit that resided in Paul and the other apostles and
prophets of Jesus Christ also resides in believers today. That Spirit is
the very presence and power of God in us. He is the Spirit of Christ in us.
As He was faithful to bear witness to God's truth for Paul and others,
regardless of their outward or physical circumstances, so He is faithful
today to guide us into all the understanding we need.
The early disciples of Jesus Christ often searched and read the Scriptures
to better understand God's will and God's ways. They wanted to be sure they
had a leg to stand on, as we might say it today. They wanted and needed
confirmation that the hope they held deep within was valid in the real
world.
And as they read and studied the Scriptures, God's Holy Spirit was there to
teach, lead, and direct them into all truth, just as He is today for
everyone who truly believes in Jesus.
Life is tough.
The difficulties we face each day are real and often bigger than we are.
While determination and fervor are admirable human qualities, these alone
will not get us through some of life's greatest challenges. We need a faith
that won't buckle when the pressure's on, or fade away when examined in the
clear light of harsh reality. We need the living faith Jesus Christ came to
give us.
We need Jesus Himself.
When a sudden and violent storm broke onto the boat Jesus was sleeping in
one day, everyone else feared for their very lives. The winds were howling
and the waves were filling the craft with water. All the disciples in that
boat believed in God. Yet they still needed Jesus Himself to handle the
storm. Jesus asked them why they were afraid (Matthew 8:23-27). And then
He spoke and calmed the wind and waves. Everyone was saved.
Our faith today is seldom greater than that of the disciples with Jesus in
the boat that day. When the storms of life rages down upon us we may feel
that our doom is certain. We need Jesus.
One thing the disciples had going for them was the fact that they were
already in the right boat. They were in the boat with Jesus. They didn't
jump ship at the first signs of trouble. And even when Jesus seemed not to
notice how bad things were, the disciples didn't abandon ship. They stayed
right where they were -- even when it fully appeared that the boat they were
in was sinking fast.
Jesus alone was able to save the disciples that day in the boat. And He did
so when they cried out to Him in their alarm. We too need to cry out. And
when are committing things to God in prayer, and doing all we know to do,
then we need to trust the results to Him. Trust God to work things out.
I love what David's top commander, Joab, said when he discovered that he had
been trapped and that his men were totally surrounded by the enemy. It
looked very bad. But Joab was no coward. He said, "Be of good courage, and
let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the
LORD do what is good in His sight." (2 Samuel 10:12)
Instead of losing all hope and trying to work a deal of surrender to the
enemy, Joab stood his ground. He did not promise his men that God would
make all the bad circumstances go away. He did not lose the will to fight
with courage. He did what he needed to do, what he knew how to do, and
trusted God with the final results. Placing everything in God's hands, Joab
faced the day.
Stand firm in what the Lord has given you. Stand your ground when all hell
breaks out against you. Fear is normal, but don't allow it to rule your
life or guide your thinking. Believe in God and in all that He's done for
you in Jesus Christ.
Trust in Jesus when the trouble comes.
Paul writes:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having
girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to
this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
Jim
encouragement for believers at www.goodwordusa.org
free Christian clip art at http://gospelgifs.goodwordusa.org
short stories & more at: http://jimsdesk.goodwordusa.org
.
|
