Greetings, greetings and more greetings. Seize the day, my friend.
So the other night I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I've learned that instead of fighting sleep it's so much more beneficial if I get up and spend time in God's Word. Almost every time I do I end up finding this nugget of truth that will just stay with me for days. A couple of nights ago....actually it was about 4 in the morning......along comes the nugget.
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4-5) Hey, that's me! I believe that Jesus is the Son of God! That must have been written for me! What about you?
Cross reference that with John 16:33. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." These are the very words of Jesus.
As I began to ponder these verses I began to wonder. Why do so many Christians just give in to adversity when it comes? I have heard so many during my lifetime say that we can never escape trouble; that it's part of life and they are quick to point out that even Jesus said so. Well, I agree, but only to a certain point. Trouble and trials do come and yes Jesus did say they would, but why do so many want to stop and leave it at that when the Word of God says that we have the ability to overcome such things? The Greek word for tribulation in verse 33 is thlipsis(sounds just like it is spelled....thlip-sis). and it really means the worst of the worst. Affliction, distress, intense pressure and crushing. Picture a garbage disposal crushing and compacting everything that is thrown into it and you have thlipsis. Sounds pretty devastating doesn't it? But then we have Jesus, our Leader, who took these things on, whipped them real good and then He gave us the ability to do the same thing. Should we not be staring adversity in the face and push it right back? Don't live in defeat or fear of anything! To do so means that Christ didn't do enough on the cross.
"I'm always sick."
"It happened to my grandfather and my dad, so it will happen to me. I just have to accept it."
"I'll always struggle financially. I'll never get ahead."
"Bad stuff always happens to me."
"My marriage stinks and always will."
Those are just a few examples of things that I've heard from people during my time in ministry. Defeating things that are just accepted as part of life. Maybe there isn't anything quite that extreme in your life, but I'll bet that there is something that you allow to defeat you time and time again. If so it's time to pull the plug on that kind of thinking. Then again if you've discovered that you don't have to wait until you get to Heaven to live in the Kingdom, maybe you've already known this for awhile.
Let's be very honest. Everyday there are people who want to talk and talk about how bad life is....how bad things are. Sadly, Christians can often lead the way with such talk. Isn't it time to counter that kind of talk with how God is full of hope, promise and overcomes? I want to be reminded more often of how "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."(Jeremiah 29:11)
"Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3) Those aren't the words of some misery giving god. Those are the words of the good, righteous, loving and living God who even destroys generational curses.
It's about finding victory in the face of defeat, it's about overcoming the bad stuff and it's about living with complete peace. Jesus promised it. He doesn't lie. That's good enough for me.
So until next time...................................
...............Peace out!!!!
Mark S.
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