Yesterday we looked at the truths that our greatest joy and greatest treasure is found in a relationship with God. Our greatest hope is in one day having the grand opportunity to stand before Him, clothed in His own righteousness and glory having been bathed in His love and joy. What a wondrous thought.
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Here on this pilgrimage journey, I am blessed with little glimpses of His Glory through His word, through His acts of mercies, through the Holy Spirit’s comforting presence and through watching Him unfold the story of my life.
As I have told you before, I have no memory of 5 except that of the moment I stood in the corner of the kitchen overwhelmed with the thoughts of my unworthiness before God and my need of Christ to save me. There listening to Dr. DeHaan on the radio, I accepted Christ as my Savior. What a miracle in itself. Yet, God called and like the apostles, I answered with a resounding yes to follow Him. My mother didn’t believe me at first; but, I started even then memorizing scripture and seeking Him. Having begun so young, one might think my life would be as I dreamed: the perfect husband, the white picket fences, PTA meeting and happy ever after. Never did I dream or hope for failure, divorce, remarriage, widowhood, cancer, ulcerative colitis, pain, brokenhearted, financial disasters, and loneliness. Still, above all other pain
and suffering; I have realized the greatest pain of all is the knowledge of how many times I have failed in my testimony for Christ because of pride, or selfish desires. How often have I caused Him tears because I doubted the depth of His love for me or I didn’t trust Him enough? So, let us move from that back to hope and how it has a view which changes all of that. Hope has a name and that is Jesus. It is His Grace and mercy that called me at the age of 5 and it has been His grace and mercy that has never let go throughout all the years. He has been there drawing me ever closer to Him. Many times it has been in the center of the worst storms of my life that I would see Him. Nothing has happened in my life but that He has ordained it or allowed it knowing the end of the story is that I will be transformed into the image of Christ as I stand before Him to behold His Glory. He knows the means of transforming my heart so that it is ready to comprehend the magnitude of His love, Joy, and Glory then. That hope lies ever before me and is anchored by God Himself through the redemptive work of Christ. It is certain and nothing can change that—the Creator of the Universe has said so and He will accomplish all that He has planned in His Good Pleasure. Knowing that changes my view of everything else. Rewind my life and I can tell you, every tear, sorrow, pain, and difficulty has lead me closer to the source of my joy and for that reason has been a blessing. Everything in my life has been an act of wondrous mercy. So, my hope is founded in the knowledge of one day standing before Christ. My security of that is also founded in Christ. The magnitude of that fact, the wonder of His mercy, and the beauty of His unconditional love for me compels me to seek Him more, love Him more, praise Him more, and proclaim His name to all of whom I meet. How can I do less than to serve Him. If I see Him as my greatest treasure and my greatest hope; then, trials and tribulations along this path are seen in a completely different light. Much like Paul as he wrote to Timothy from a dark, cold dungeon; knowing that his execution would be forthcoming. His body scarred from all the times He had been beaten for Christ, aching with pain, hungry, cold and lonely; he admonished Timothy to never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
2 Timothy 1: 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Oh, that we might never lose sight of the wonder of His mercy. Let the focus of our hearts be to seek and savor Christ above all else. Let our joy and hope along this journey be His mission to tell a lost world about our Redeemer King. When we do that, hope’s view sees what we previously thought as trials are really opportunities to grow closer to real joy.
So listen closely to these words by Matt Redman, Mercy
©2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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