Life’s greatest blessings are often disguised in life’s greatest challenges. God has a way of getting our attention by shocking us to confront our deep seated prejudices. These cataclysmic events are often our “moment of truth.”
When the doctors told Travis’ father that his son was born, at that moment in time, he was the world’s proudest father. This moment, however, was short-lived. Upon hearing the doctor’s next sentence, “Do you know what Down’s syndrome is?,” he was plunged into the depth of despair. Since then, Travis’ father has learned the meaning of unconditional love. Travis was raised in a loving Christian home and has grown to become a godly young man with an irrepressible enthusiasm for life. Travis’ infectious “joi de vivre” has touched many lives, especially at Angel’s Stadium where he works as a greeter. Travis has become one of the greatest joys of of his father’s life.
Life’s catastrophes are God’s “come to Jesus” moments… Come to Jesus, and live.
By God’s divine design, Christianity cannot spread without persecution. We must be broken by confronting our own ego-centric and “churchianity-centric” position that is diametrically opposed to Christ. Our flesh cries out against the pain of persecution and, and the “humiliation” of scoffers who ridicule men of God in the public square. These are the scoffers of the world’s politically correct culture who sit in the seat of the scornful. Jesus said, “blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.”
It’s difficult for us to know our own hearts. The carnal man in the mirror often deceives us. We must look into the mirror of the Word of God in order to see our true spiritual selves… Christ in us the hope of Glory. I have seen the enemy in the flesh, and he is me.
1Peter 1:4 – 7
… your Father has begotten you to a lively hope… To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honors and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
In life’s cataclysmic moments, my question to God is, “why have you given me this trial, this challenge?” This is life’s teachable moment when God will break my heart. Only when my heart is broken, can God intervene to mend my broken heart. At that moment the Lord’s power to heal is made manifest in my brokenness.
In the midst of the turmoil and confusion of the world, where is the clarity, where is the path of righteousness, how do we align our collective moral compass to true north?
Trials and suffering are inevitable. The question is not whether we will be faced with trials, the question is, “how will you respond in the face of the challenge?”
The things of this world are fleeting… they will take wing and fly away.
However, ye have an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
Therefore set your affection on things above not on things of the earth… for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
Each day we have a challenge to trust God who has made us a steward over that which he has committed to our keeping. Therefore, we must keep “a light touch” on the things of this world. All I have is thine… take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to thee.
A wise man said that a million wild horses cannot drag me away. Power must be broken, bridled, trained, harnessed, and controlled to accomplish the master’s purpose. We, like wild horses, must be broken in order to serve him… only upon submission, do we allow God to will and to do of his good pleasure in us and through us.
Trials are given to develop the fruit of the spirit. God sends the unloving into our lives to teach us to love unconditionally… to model his love to others. In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.
In the pain and pressure of trial and tribulation, his purpose, his perfection, is made manifest in our imperfection. For tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.
God’s purpose is to shape us into the image of Christ through trial and tribulation… through the heat and pressure of conforming to his mold, … we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of The Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even by the spirit of The Lord.
Our prayer is not “God deliver me from the storm,” but rather, “God deliver me through the storm.” My weakness is made perfect in your strength… thy grace is sufficient for me.
Jesus called us not for the comfort and convenience of the pleasures of this world. Rather he called us to endure hardness as a good soldier in service to our Commander in Chief.
Through the heat of the battle and the pain of the trial, God’s men emerge as men of integrity, character and grace. God is teaching us to suppress our will, our need for praise, prestige, accolades and approbation. He allows trial and tribulation to allow us to confront humility… It’s not about me, it’s about Him. It’s not who we are, but rather, whose we are.
God is teaching us to become single minded. Through the trials, my prayer is, “God what are you teaching me through this?” In my flesh I can do nothing. Our joy is in The Lord… for me to live (in the spirit) is Christ, to die (to the flesh) is gain.
Men long for significance. Significance is meaning. What’s it all about? What is the meaning and the significance of life?… As Shakspeare said, “life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” As Solomon said, “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Vanity is emptiness… Without God there is no faith, no joy, no hope… no significance to life.
Words are messages that convey meaning and significance. We are called to be both the messengers and the message. What is the significance of the message of your life? What is the meaning of your life? The meaning and significance of life is our Lord Jesus Christ. In him we live and move and have our being. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” All things were created by him and for him. What do you need to discover meaning and significance of this life? All I need is thee… Take my life and let it be consecrated. Jesus Christ is the Word, the message made flesh. He is the significance, the meaning, the message of life.