February 19, 2018 THE POWER TO ENDURE
Hebrews 12:2-3: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” Jesus had one mission, one reason for coming to earth and giving His life, and that was that man might be redeemed and restored to a relationship with His creator and spend eternity in heaven. Jesus knew what heaven was like and He knew what it was like being with the Father, and Jesus knows what blessings are in store for those united with the Father in heaven. We may not think about Jesus having emotions or expressing joy, but what lie beyond the cross brought joy to Jesus. It was the “joy set before Him” that enabled Him to endure a horrible death on the Roman cross. Jesus knew that through the death He would suffer, all of those who believe in Him as Savior would experience eternal life in heaven, forever with the Lord. Certainly the scriptures address everyday life and give instructions as to how we are to conduct our life here on earth, but throughout the New Testament we are admonished to see ourselves as being ‘strangers and aliens’, and not seeing this world as our home. As discussed in a recent blog, the early believers were accustomed to persecution and trials and it was their belief that they were destined to be with God in heaven that enabled them to endure the difficulties they faced. Unlike the early believers, there is a tendency for believers today to be primarily focused on the ‘here and now’ life and personal fulfillment. We do better to see our life on this earth as a time of preparation, of being transformed into His image, and being made ready for eternal life in heaven. One major work that God has done, and is doing in us, is that of making us overcomers in this world, and to be an overcomer, we must have something to overcome, thus we have trials that God allows to come our way. We have been purchased by God, we now belong to Him, our life is not our own, and He has prepared a place for us in heaven. Just as Jesus did, we can also see the joy that is set before us and because of what God has for us, we can endure whatever trials we face and not “grow weary and lose heart.” Let us be good stewards while on this earth, but let us know that this world is not our home, and that we are destined to spend eternity with our Father in heaven. Our true identity is that we have been made sons and daughters of God and we are on a journey that leads to our permanent home in heaven!
Hebrews 13:14 “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
Hebrews 11:16 “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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