Always Running
If you think that I'm about to tell you how in high school, I had track skills that would make Usain Bolt jealous, you probably haven't spent more than 5.2 seconds with me. Treadmills make me contemplate cutting my legs off with a butter knife and in high school, I was a mediocre (at best) member of the swim team. Physical running is not something I want to discuss now or ever.
But running from life? Now that is a top skill set of mine. When things get tough, I'm searching the job market, house market, friend market, you name it. I simply do not naturally possess the propensity to "fight it out."
Recently, I heard a sermon about creating an Eternal Perspective when facing difficulties. The pastor spoke on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, where Paul has the audacity to call our hardships "light momentary afflictions." He is specifically referencing the times that he was beaten, imprisoned, starved, etc. You know, just the usual trials that we all face, right?
It honestly blew my mind that Paul was able to call such extreme conditions "light" and "momentary." If I have a bad week at work, you better believe all of my friends have heard about how tough my life is, and that I've contemplated applying for at least one new job. And here is Paul: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 6:17)."
Paul wasn't focused on the things of this life. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that every single aspect of this world was shaping him for the glory of the next. His eyes weren't looking around him at the weight of his current circumstances, they were looking above Him at the glory of Heaven. He was well aware that none of his suffering would be in vain, for it all had an eternal purpose.
You guys, through Jesus, we are promised HEAVEN. Do you grasp the weight of that today? This life is so short and soon, we will be face to face with Christ. And trust me, when we meet Him, we won't worry about what our coworker said to us that one time.
So where are you today? Are you running from or fixated on your current difficulties? Me too. Let's change that. Link arms with someone, dig your heels in deep, and don't flee from your situations. Hold tight to the promise of eternity. Fix your gaze on Jesus. And remember my favorite quote from Pastor Reeder, "God hasn't called you to like the trial that you're in. He's called you to be faithful through it."
But running from life? Now that is a top skill set of mine. When things get tough, I'm searching the job market, house market, friend market, you name it. I simply do not naturally possess the propensity to "fight it out."
Recently, I heard a sermon about creating an Eternal Perspective when facing difficulties. The pastor spoke on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, where Paul has the audacity to call our hardships "light momentary afflictions." He is specifically referencing the times that he was beaten, imprisoned, starved, etc. You know, just the usual trials that we all face, right?
It honestly blew my mind that Paul was able to call such extreme conditions "light" and "momentary." If I have a bad week at work, you better believe all of my friends have heard about how tough my life is, and that I've contemplated applying for at least one new job. And here is Paul: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 6:17)."
Paul wasn't focused on the things of this life. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that every single aspect of this world was shaping him for the glory of the next. His eyes weren't looking around him at the weight of his current circumstances, they were looking above Him at the glory of Heaven. He was well aware that none of his suffering would be in vain, for it all had an eternal purpose.
You guys, through Jesus, we are promised HEAVEN. Do you grasp the weight of that today? This life is so short and soon, we will be face to face with Christ. And trust me, when we meet Him, we won't worry about what our coworker said to us that one time.
So where are you today? Are you running from or fixated on your current difficulties? Me too. Let's change that. Link arms with someone, dig your heels in deep, and don't flee from your situations. Hold tight to the promise of eternity. Fix your gaze on Jesus. And remember my favorite quote from Pastor Reeder, "God hasn't called you to like the trial that you're in. He's called you to be faithful through it."
Comments
Post a Comment