11/25/2023
Do we let the happenings of the world trouble us and destroy the faith and tranquility we have in Jesus Christ? Are we so worried about what is occurring in our day to day lives that we can no longer see or feel the eternal truth, which is that Jesus suffered so we could be redeemed; and that He has brought us peace and rest? If so it is time we started stripping the meaningless outer layers away from our life of faith, and get down to the one thing that truly matters... the Cross.
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Galatians 6:14 ESV
One night an old man and his wife both had an evening in which they couldn’t sleep. He was resting in their bed, and she was trying not to wake him by finding somewhere else in the house to read, hoping that eventually she would find sleep. As he was laying in their bed, wide awake, he listened as she moved about. Had they been young they would have gone to bed together, and perhaps would have comforted one another until slumber found them, but as it were they each struggled for sleep separately. The core of their relationship did not come into play... love remained hidden, and the things that troubled them continued to be their overriding concern.
We can find ourselves living our lives of faith like this. Too often we place the cares and concerns of the world in the forefront of our consciousness, and we lose the peace and tranquility that awaits us in the arms of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was able to strip away the happenings of the world and find the core of his faith. He found the peace and rest that the Redemption of Christ afforded him, and he did this in the most trying of times. Jesus spoke of being at peace in this way...
“”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
I listen to Christians as they wring their hands and bemoan what is happening in the world around them. I hear pastors preach entire sermons about some current event that is frightening them, worrying them, and troubling their congregations. What is being missed in this is the insignificance of the world as compared with the redemption we each have received. We spend way too much time and effort fretting over something that we profess is going away with the coming of Christ; whom we claim that we want to see come quickly. We lose the peace and rest that Jesus promised, and which should be inherent in our faith. We worry over the things of the world that mean so little, and we do this when we should be strengthening our focus on Jesus, and the peace of God. If this describes who we are then let’s rediscover the heart of our belief. Chambers touches on this by boiling down of our faith in this way…
“Re-state to yourself what you believe, then do away with as much of it as possible, and get back to the bedrock of the Cross of Christ. In external history the cross is an infinitesimal thing; from the Bible point of view it is of more importance than all the empires of the world.” - Oswald Chambers
What empire are we allowing to come between us and our redeemer’s Cross today? Is it Russia, Hamas, Iran, North Korea, Gangs, or one of the other bad actors in the world? What is it about this fallen world that is so frightening to us that we can’t trust in God to deliver us from it? Which earthly catastrophe do we perceive to be bleeding over into heaven itself? When we allow the world to interfere in our relationship with God we are presenting ourselves back to the external world that Jesus overcame, and we are doing so as if we have been defeated. In this way we have reinserted ourselves back into the clutches of the lost world.
“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
Romans 6:13 ESV
There is nothing righteous about this world except the children of God who live upon it. When we overly concern ourselves with its goings and comings, we are placing it once more on the throne of our lives. Don’t worry if everything crumbles around you, because we already know that is coming... God’s Word in Revelation has revealed that to us. Place all trust in Him, and Jesus Christ.
“He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Revelation 22:20 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the peace and rest you have given me. I thank you for the trust I have placed in your will, the plan you have for me, the kingdom to come, and all that is in it. I praise your Holy name Father for my redemption through your grace, and for your Son Jesus Christ. I shout your praises without ceasing for the joy and reassurance that I feel in you. Should this world crumble and fall I will cry out “Come quickly, Lord Jesus” and know that I will find comfort in His arms. Until then Father, I will not worry or lose sight of you in my life, and I will place nothing before you on the throne of my heart. I am yours Gracious Father, and in you I will abide forever.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:21 ESV
Rich Forbes