01/24/2020
Are you suffering in some manner today? Do you have a disease of the body that plagues you, trouble at your job, people that oppress you, or is there constant worry, broken relationships, or some other hardship stalking your every thought? So many issues exist in our daily lives that can distract us from our faith, and the joy, peace, and comfort that awaits us there, but when we turn our attention towards Jesus He conquers some, and gives us peace in the others... He overcomes the daily issues, and stresses in our lives with God’s love and goodness.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:18 ESV
So many of us are consumed by our present troubles, and we forget that we are but travelers who are passing through this place. We assign too much emphasis to the desires and sufferings of the here and now. When our hearts are broken we dwell on the pain of lost love, and not the ever present love of God. In the same way, when we are facing death we are overcome by our fear and mourning, rather than everlasting life. And, when we are lacking in some way we can think of nothing else... even when the Lord will provide. In this way we are giving our lives in this world the ultimate say over us, and we are forgetting our citizenship is in another land, and that this is where our true home is.
“Dear friends, since you are immigrants and strangers in the world, I urge that you avoid worldly desires that wage war against your lives.”
1 Peter 2:11 CEB
I played sports as a boy, and young man. I loved them, and played many different ones, but there was one piece of advice that was common to all of them, and that nearly every coach gave to his players. It seems trite but it is effective, and I will share it with you now... “Keep your eye on the ball!” Our body follows wherever our eyes look. If we are playing baseball we don’t concentrate on the bat, we watch the ball and the bat follows. When we are catching a football we focus on the ball all the way into our hands. When we are shooting a basketball we look at the rim, and not at our hands. Well, this is true in other aspects of our lives too. When we are in pain we don’t focus on the pain, but on the healing, and when we are fearful we concentrate on something calming. Keeping our eye on the ball makes us successful.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 ESV
In faith we love God with all our heart, soul, body, and strength, and focus on Jesus... this is how we keep our eye on the ball of faith, and it is how we overcome sin, death, and the world. This is also how we find peace in our troubled lives, and we read it repetitively in scripture...
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 ESV
So our present troubles might appear daunting, and our pain and fear overwhelming, but there is a day coming soon when all of the suffering that faces us now will melt away into a greater, and eternal joy. This is the ball that we must keep our eye on if we are to hit the mark, and have all of our tears dried. This is the love that warrants our focus, and which we will never lose. Yes, this is our focus, our home at the end of the journey we are on... the one where we will sit at our Father’s table, and have forgotten these momentary trials.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."”
Revelation 21:3-5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your true and unwavering promises. Thank you for promising us an eternity in heaven that serves as our hope, and or constant focus amidst our troubles. Help us Holy Father to look past the challenges of this life, and to concentrate on you, and your Son Jesus. Show us the ball in your hand, which is Christ, that we can keep our eye on Him always, and obtain your love, pleasure, and welcome when we stand before you at last. Father in that moment dry our eyes so that we see you in all of your glory. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is our hearts deepest longing. Praised be your name, even as we travel this distant land of much suffering. Light our path Lord that we might see what lies ahead, and awaits us. Hear us sing and pray you despite the hardships, because you are our great healer, and provider; our rescue from all tribulation. All glory is yours Father through your Son Jesus, and your mercy and grace that he pours out on us.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ESV
Rich Forbes