“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
EZEKIEL 41-42
1Then the man brought me to the main hall and measured the jambs; the width of the jambs was six cubitsa on each side.b2The entrance was ten cubitsc wide, and the projecting walls on each side of it were five cubitsd wide. He also measured the main hall; it was forty cubits long and twenty cubits wide.e(41:1-2)
2 PETER 1
3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
JOURNAL
I guess in many ways I grew up with a delusional belief in God. I think it was mainly because several preachers I was exposed to tended to use scripture for manipulative purposes. They painted a picture of the Christian life as one that resulted in guaranteed health, wealth and success.
Yet what I have found in scripture is confirmed in the 48 years I have spent on this planet. We are only promised Heaven in Heaven or hell in hell. Those are the only definites...what happens here on earth is a grab bag of good and bad experiences...some will have more good than bad while others get more bad than good. The rhyme or reason is never a guarantee. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good. There is even scripture that confirms that some people will enjoy long life and success and wealth while on earth...even though they are selfish, greedy and full of hate. There is also scripture that confirms that those that follow God will experience, suffering, rebuke, rejection and horrible death.
Jesus, the disciples, Paul...all experienced extreme suffering. They hoped in something far beyond them, far beyond their own lives and even beyond the lives of their wives, children, friends etc. They hoped and lived for a future kingdom where love and joy ruled. Where happiness would never be measured by how much money or toys you had but rather because you were free to love and serve others.
When I read the letters of Paul and Peter and the words of Jesus I find that they are calling believers to a life of joy regardless of circumstance. They are calling for us to live beyond what happens to us. To serve, sacrifice, love and forgive no matter the situation but especially...in the midst of persecution, suffering and death. There is evil in the world...we are promised that it will exist until the earth is completely restored, we can find it everywhere, but we also are promised that God is everywhere and he will never leave us.
I love the book EPIC by John Eldredge. The beginning of the book talks about story and how each of us are part of God's EPIC story that he has been telling from the beginning of time. Each of us have an important role to play in that story or else we wouldn't be here. It's easy to forget that sometimes and get distracted in ways that take the focus off the big picture and our role in the story. It's easy to think about frustrations and things that make me uncomfortable rather than that I am part of an EPIC story with subplots and adventure and battle and that I get to play a vital role. Today is part of that story...make it count!
Yet what I have found in scripture is confirmed in the 48 years I have spent on this planet. We are only promised Heaven in Heaven or hell in hell. Those are the only definites...what happens here on earth is a grab bag of good and bad experiences...some will have more good than bad while others get more bad than good. The rhyme or reason is never a guarantee. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good. There is even scripture that confirms that some people will enjoy long life and success and wealth while on earth...even though they are selfish, greedy and full of hate. There is also scripture that confirms that those that follow God will experience, suffering, rebuke, rejection and horrible death.
Jesus, the disciples, Paul...all experienced extreme suffering. They hoped in something far beyond them, far beyond their own lives and even beyond the lives of their wives, children, friends etc. They hoped and lived for a future kingdom where love and joy ruled. Where happiness would never be measured by how much money or toys you had but rather because you were free to love and serve others.
When I read the letters of Paul and Peter and the words of Jesus I find that they are calling believers to a life of joy regardless of circumstance. They are calling for us to live beyond what happens to us. To serve, sacrifice, love and forgive no matter the situation but especially...in the midst of persecution, suffering and death. There is evil in the world...we are promised that it will exist until the earth is completely restored, we can find it everywhere, but we also are promised that God is everywhere and he will never leave us.
I love the book EPIC by John Eldredge. The beginning of the book talks about story and how each of us are part of God's EPIC story that he has been telling from the beginning of time. Each of us have an important role to play in that story or else we wouldn't be here. It's easy to forget that sometimes and get distracted in ways that take the focus off the big picture and our role in the story. It's easy to think about frustrations and things that make me uncomfortable rather than that I am part of an EPIC story with subplots and adventure and battle and that I get to play a vital role. Today is part of that story...make it count!
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
JOHN 14:27
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