Time Revealed

I have recently been reminded that I can tend to approach the Bible in a very specific, but somewhat limiting, manner. As a means of daily sustenance, I read the Bible seeking to understand more about God, His character through what He has done in the past, and in what He is currently doing in me, in those around me, and in the world. My tendency is to focus on God’s faithfulness, His power, and His presence in this world to calm my heart and give me strength for each day.

This is what I feel I need in this present moment. Sometimes, however, our feelings lie to us, and the challenge is for us to get curious about them to understand how they impact our perception of ourselves and the world around us. The daily challenge is to drive action through prayer, biblical meditation, and guidance, rather than how we feel about ourselves or our present circumstances.   

Perceiving the God of the Bible as working only in ancient history distances us from Him. Even living out our faith daily in relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit does not provide a complete picture of God. As the Son of God, Jesus Christ’s redemptive work was completed at the cross for those who choose to put their trust in Him for their salvation, but there is so much more that He is doing and will do. There is victory in that cross that manifests in our lives daily, and yet so much more is to come in the future. Meditating on this can sharpen our focus and restore abundant joy.

Part of the Issue

In efforts to improve future performance, I have been taught to look back as well as to look around at what is happening in a particular situation. I subconsciously look to past experiences and present outcomes to determine what changes need to be made in order to generate the outcomes I desire in the future. I find I even do this when I teach or write here which falsely mitigates somewhat the fullness of the hope we have in Jesus.

Yup, I was wrong, or perhaps deceived. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Case in point, I will speak often of the fact that the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a confirmed historical event. I’ll speak to God’s goodness and His faithfulness in times of pain and suffering, even when we are not faithful. I’ll speak of good guilt which leads to repentance of sin, and the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus, fully God and fully man, could accomplish this for the sin of mankind. The early disciples recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and spread this message far and wide after what they had seen and experienced in His presence.

But again, there is so much more to come. Jesus Himself told us He will come again to judge mankind, deliver His final and perfect justice, and restore all of creation. The choices we make in this life in the body will have an impact on where we will spend eternity. This is an either / or proposition; there is no other way. There is joy now in God’s presence through relationship with His Son, and future untold joy in holding certain to the fact that the Messiah will come again to set everything right.

Please do not miss the fact that the Lamb is also the Lion of Judah, and He is inviting you into relationship with Him.

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear for a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:31-33, emphasis mine).

In light of this, it would seem wise and judicious to make a choice. Jesus has declared He is the only way (John 14:6).

Please bear in mind if you completely disagree, your argument is with God, not with me. The truth of the gospel is in no need of a defense.

And if you are undecided in this, ask God in prayer to help you with your unbelief, in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:23-25; Matthew 7:7; John 14:13-14, 16:23-24). The God of the Bible is a good God, faithful and true, and He can be trusted, especially in this.

If you already believe, I hope meditating on these things renews your joy, and the shared hope we have in Christ. It has been offered in the hopes of providing encouragement to those like me who can sometimes become weary or overly fret when we bring our own agendas to the table in lieu of resting in God’s plan and purposes.

I pray, dear readers, that you are able to hold space to reflect on these things for yourself and for your loved ones. Life gets busy and we get so easily distracted. I pray also you are able to set aside the worries of this life today and start to reflect on what all of this means for you.

So, the question is: Will you trust Him? Will you put your trust in Jesus Christ?

Peace. Alison

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