Indeed the hour is
coming…that you will be scattered… —John 16:32
“Their faith was real, but it
was disordered and unfocused, and was not at work in the important realities of
life. The disciples were scattered to their own concerns and they had interests
apart from Jesus Christ. After we have the perfect relationship with God,
through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our faith must be exercised in
the realities of everyday life. Until we have been through that experience, our
faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings. But once we get there, no
matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can
praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in
the realities of life.[…] Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us?
Are we prepared to be separated from the outward, evident blessings of God?
Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord, we each have goals of our own which we
serve. […] And God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to wait, we will see
God pointing out that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of
in God Himself.” CHAMBERS
Jesus had been teaching the
disciples for 3 years. Much like students in a classroom. They learn the material but have not been on
their own to apply what they have learned.
Sitting in a chair in a classroom and facing the realities of life are
two very different things. Many young
people go to college thinking that when they graduate, they are going to make a
lot of money. That life will be
good. That actually happens for very
few. Many Christians see being a
Christian as the pathway to personal blessing .. materially, relationally,
physically … that too is not realistic.
Like the disciples, we have all discovered that this Christian life does
not spare us from hardship. We have been
blessed, but it is a mistake to think that God’s blessings mean that we will
avoid personal hardship. Our blessings are spiritual. (Ephesians 1:3-4) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ, just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him in love” I realize that that
is contrary to mainstream Christian thinking … How many times have I said “God
blessed me” when something good happened. Does that mean when something bad
happens? Does it mean that God is mad at
me and has withheld His blessing? I don’t
think so. Try teaching a health and
wealth theology to someone in a third world country who is going to face the
same hardships, perhaps the rest of their lives. Does that mean that God is mad at them?
Let’s separate the Apostles
from the disciples … many of the disciples fell away, the closer Jesus got to
the cross. The Apostles were all
eventually martyred. What kind of
blessing or reward for following Jesus is that?
Jesus said we will have to endure difficulty. (John
16:33) “These things I have spoken
unto you that you might have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Peter said not to be surprised or
dismayed. God has given us a supernatural capacity to endure … faith. (1 Peter 4:12-13) “Beloved, do not think
it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened to you; but
rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings…” God has given
us the capacity to endure … and the understanding that this world is not our
home. I read something on Facebook, (and
if it’s on Facebook, you know it’s got to be true!) about Steve Jobs. At the end of his life, when he realized that
all of his success, fame, and fortune would not buy him another minute of life …
he saw the truth. I didn’t say he was
born again .. but he saw what was truly important in life. Friend … don’t spend your life seeking the
comforts of this world at the expense of the blessings that God has for
you. You can’t love both God and the
world. (Matthew 6:24) ““You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god,
you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other.
You can’t worship God and Money both.” Does
God answer prayer? Yes. But god also cause the sun to shine and the rain to
fall on the just and the unjust. (Matthew
5:45) Pastor Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life, wrote “God is more
interested in your character than your comfort.” Think about that. What are you most
interested in? ELGIN
Charley Elgin
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