The Story Isn’t Over

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalms 91:1 CSB 

When faced with our sin, voices of condemnation awaken in us. The enemy tries to steal our peace, kill our dreams, and destroy our future. But he will not have the last word. Jesus has acted on our behalf. He stooped low enough to rub shoulders with the broken in spirit. Low enough to be crucified and buried. And then He stood up from the slab of death, conquering the grave!

Wherever God sees sincere seekers with confused hearts, you can bet that He will do whatever it takes to help us see His will. Jesus carries the authority of God to teach us how to live, how to love, how to forgive. But most of all He teaches us why on earth we are on this earth. Seek Him out. Lift up your eyes and set your sights across the horizon on Jesus.

Psalms 29:3-4 TPT  The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas. The Glory-God reigns as He thunders in the clouds. So powerful is His voice, so brilliant and bright— how majestic as He thunders over the great waters!

 When we are trudging through a difficult experience, trust in Jesus' work. And trust His Word. Don’t trust your emotions. Don’t trust your opinions. 

Heed only the voice of God. 

The enemy will try to raise doubts about God and shift, ever so gradually, your source of confidence away from God’s promise and toward your performance. Jesus’ weapon of choice against Satan was Scripture, and it is ours too. Everything we need is in the Bible; we simply need to heed it. God is constantly and aggressively communicating with the world through His written Word. Wow! 

God is speaking still! Hang in there.

Our assignment during our time here is not fruitfulness but faithfulness. 

2 Samuel 22:33 NET  The one true God is my mighty refuge; He removes the obstacles in my way.

The secret to fruit-bearing and anxiety-free living is less about doing and more about abiding. To abide in Christ is to be at home with Him. Our aim—our only aim—is to be at home in Christ. He is our place of refuge and security. 

When we pray with Holy Spirit, talk with Jesus, we will be comfortable in His presence, free to be our authentic selves. We will know His heart and His ways. We rest in Him, find our nourishment in Him. Abiding in Christ, filling our minds with the truth of God and His goodness brings victory over anxiety and doubt and teaches us about God’s faithfulness no matter what our circumstances.

Each one of us entered the world with a sin nature. God entered the world to take it away. But it would come at a great cost. Jesus came to save us, not just from politics, enemies, challenges, or difficulties. He came to save us from ourselves. God has high plans for you and me. God had a plan, a story He has been writing from the very  beginning.

Thank God that Jesus Christ endured because we cannot deal with our own sins (see Mark 2:7). 

God put our wrong on Christ so He could put Christ’s righteousness on us. 

Though we come to the cross dressed in sin, we leave dressed in Christ Himself (see Galatians 3:27). 

The task is finished, but the story isn’t over.  

The last chapter of God’s plan, where Jesus returns and where heaven comes down to earth, is still coming. 

Whatever town, city or nation we reside in, if you’re a follower of Jesus, you can count on enjoying the greatest gathering in history (see Mark 13:27). 

God will purge every square inch that sin has contaminated and we will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30 GW).  

This is the moment toward which God’s salvation plan is moving. Let this sink in. We will see the face of God. These days on earth can seem so difficult. What is this world coming to? we wonder. God’s answer: a Great Day when all history will be consummated in Christ.  

In the meantime, we are here. Life is complicated. Life is wonderful. We spend so much energy repairing yesterday’s decisions. Can you imagine how sinlessness would simplify life? When you see that, you’re imagining heaven. Satan will no longer be present to tempt us. 

do we have to wait for heaven to enjoy life? By no means, but we do need a Savior. Jesus Christ offers joy in this life and perfection in the next. 

Simplify today by letting Jesus forgive your sins and cleanse your heart (see 1 John 1:9). 

Simplify tomorrow by setting your heart on heaven.