This world in the which we are journeying is filled with potholes, pains, conflicts, and sorrows.  We look around us and see bleeding, suffering hearts filled with bitterness and anger.  We look within and see pains, sorrows, conflicts within our own heart.  Whispering to our minds are those words of doubt.  We wonder how is it that we have made such a mess of our lives.  We have loved God, wanted to follow Him with all our hearts; yet, that thread of doubt–those words which constantly play back that "I am a failure"  haunt our minds penetrating deep into our souls.  Whispers come pounding into our minds, ripping at our soul;  "What makes you think that God really loves you?"  We stuff them down and don’t want anyone to know they are there; because after all, who would ever believe us again.  We feel that we must never let anyone know that doubts, fears, and pains ever find a place in our hearts; because then they would wonder about our sincerity when we talk about God’s love, joy, hope and peace.  When we stop to read the epistles of Paul so filled with strength and hope, have you ever noticed His sincerity?  The depth of His pains, sorrows, tribulations which are overwhelmed and dispelled by His proclamations of Joy, Hope, and a Righteousness not of Works–but founded in Grace.  He points us to that Hope which abounds within us because of the Hope founded in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross.  He ever reminds us that this life of trials and conflicts has a purpose.  If I never had doubt; how, could I help you see God’s truth when doubt comes?  If I never bore the pain of illness, then how could I help you when you are facing it?  If I did not need to daily cling with all my might to God’s promises of sufficient grace to just take that next step; then, how could I tell you that it is OK? His Grace is Sufficient.  Look closely at what Paul said to the church at Corinth. 

2 Corinthians 1: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

So let me tell you what I do know.  God is my strength, when I am weak.  He is my hope, when all that surrounds me seems to be caving in upon me.  He is my Joy, when this worlds counterfeit joys lay heaped in a pile, burning into ashes.  He is my righteousness, for on my own I have nothing to bring.

2 Corinthians 2: 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

But I urge you not to fail to return tomorrow for the second part of Glory to Glory, this journey which is transforming us to see, savour (like a sweet, rich morsel) the Glory of Christ so that we, ourselves, are being transformed day by day, step by step, little glory by little glory until one day we stand before our Savior.  Then we may understand, there is no pain too great for the salvation of one soul. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

 

How do you see God?  Do you see Him as a loving Father in whom you can trust? Or do you see Him as far and distant, frightening, always about judgement?  He paid the ultimate price so that you might share in His righteousness with all your sins paid for at the cross.  He desires to meet you right where you are.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine. 

Deuteronomy 23:

the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.

I John 4:

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

I hope you watch this video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpSE3eZTCNo

Paul the Apostle very carefully and meticulously laid out the case and foundation for salvation by grace and grace only throughout the initial chapters of Romans with a summary to be stated once more in Romans 10.

Romans 10:  2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth….

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Having made the full argument for grace, he then began the dissertation for living out that grace.  Just because we have been set free from the law does not mean that we live our lives filled with sin, carelessly going about our own selfish desires awaiting the return of Christ.  That would be impossible and unheard of in Paul’s perspective.  Having experienced the grace that God has provided us and having seen His Righteousness and Glory; how could we ever be content to continue on in our own sin? 

Romans 12:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

He continues on to explain how that life surrendered to God should look like. That we should ever be reminded quickly when we have turned our eyes away from Christ back toward looking at ourselves. 

Romans 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My salvation was by grace and did not come because of any merit within myself. If I remember that then my response should also be always one that showcases God’s grace to the world. 

Romans 12:

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men…

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

So when you find yourself Christian in a situation that you are failing to represent the Grace that you have been given, STOP, run quickly to the throne of Grace.  Jonathan Edwards very aptly laid out the check points to our recognizing when we have begun to act out our flesh and not our new found righteous in Christ in the following quote.

“If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please myself or omit anything because it is a great denial, if I trust myself, if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me, or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God’s.”

― Jonathan Edwards

If you are like me and need to dissect your heart a little further to then lay your self exalting, covetous heart before the throne of Grace and give your body as a living Sacrifice to God then I recommend you go back and read an earlier blog of mind that will help you as these steps help me as well.

https://myglorytoglory.com/archives/516  Secrets to Discovering a Forgiving Heart. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h9-uc37PAE

If you were to ask most Christians regarding the purpose for which God created them, there answer would be that "I was created to Glorify God." In fact, Jonathan Edwards wrote a dissertation called "The End For Which God Created The World".    I would agree that the end result is that God’s Glory is magnified by all of creation and that our lives should become like a mirror reflecting back God’s own glory thus again magnifying His Glory; yet, I have wondered most of my life about what could possibly be in me that could add anything to God’s glory.  The more I learned and saw of God’s Glory, the more I realized that there was nothing within me that could ever add anything to His perfect Glory.  In fact, that thought became a stumbling block for me.  The harder I tried with my own efforts, the more I would fall; until one day I fell before God with a broken spirit and contrite heart that saw my total unworthiness and inability to Glorify God.  I began to wonder if the end result of God being Glorified was indeed the purpose.  If so, I felt hopelessly a failure.  Or could it be that the purpose was different, even though the end result would be His Glory being magnified.  Pleading, I asked God to show me the purpose for which He had created me and had chosen me to be His child.  Then one day like a soothing rain, He led me to John 17.  This was the prayer that Jesus prayed on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Within that prayer, I believe that I found the three purposes for which I and mankind were created.  Additionally, I realized that within those purposes I was given the key to living a Christian life that would cause me to empty myself of my own self centered desires and pride so that like a mirror reflecting and magnifying the intensity of light, my life could reflect God’s own Glory and thus magnifying it to be seen by a world lost in darkness. 

1.  God created man to share His love.  This is not an equal sharing, this is similar to my sharing my dinner with the homeless man on the corner by giving of my abundance to a pauper who had none.  The love that is known by the Triune God–God the Father’s love for the Son, the Son for the Father, the Holy Spirits love for both and theirs for Him is a love so tremendous, overflowing like a fountain spilling onto everything around them.  Therefore, God created man to share that love with them.   "that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."   (John 17:23)   How different would your life be if you really understood the depth of God’s love for you? What would change in your life if you realized that He created you so that He could share that love with you?

2.  God created man to share His Joy.  God is a joyous God.  "these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves." John 17:13.  "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17.  So often, we as Christians go about our lives with solemn faces carrying our crosses until Christ’s return.  How different would your life be if you truly understood that God is a Joyous God who also created you for the purpose of sharing His Joy with you?  Again, sharing like a rich man sharing with a pauper.

3.  God created man to share His Glory.  "22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them;"(John 17)  There it is.  It is His Glory, not mine.  I can reflect that Glory only when I empty myself of me.  On my own, I am the pauper and He is the Glorious King.  My life’s mirror reflection of His Glory requires my laying down all my own self so that He can shine forth.  The mirror must be polished and cleared of all smudges and dirt to reflect His Glory.  That happens by His own polishing it through Sanctification as we feed on His word.  "17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."  (John 17)

Let me help you to understand this, by telling you this story.  I truly believe that understanding the difference between purpose and ultimate end results will transform your Christian life so that you can become a mirror (void of self) reflecting God’s Glory and magnifying it so that a world in darkness can see the light of God’s Glory.

In 2010, Mom was in rehab recovering from a knee surgery.  There began a group of burglaries in my neighborhood in which the burglars entered the homes when people were gone to work.  I put in an alarm system; but also decided to look for a large breed dog that could stand guard while I worked sometimes very long hours.  After searching through the various shelter pages, I came upon Jason a rottweiler/hound mix.  After reading his story, I went to the shelter.  The workers and the owner of the shelter tried to convince me that I should take another dog.  Jason was 8 years old and had been returned before.  I knew very little about his former life; but, they said he had been hit by a car once and when he was found  wandering the streets.  They had rescued him from the County Humane Society who was preparing to euthanize him.  He had been with them a while and though he had a few foster homes; he was always returned to them where he lived in a crate most of the time.  He had trouble getting along with other dogs and thus was exiled except for the times they took him out for runs.  After much insistence on my part, they locked up all the other dogs and brought him out.  When they handed his leash to me to take for a walk before I decided, I saw this rather anxious, eager dog that bore several scars on his face.  Did I sense an air of sadness about him, or maybe a little sense of hope as he gazed at me that day?  I took Jason home that day and over the next three years, Jason changed.  He quit digging through the trash even though I had never yelled at him for it; but he had watched me very tired cleaning it up in the evening.  He quit pulling on the leash after he saw me fall once.  He was content to just sit in my presence.  So often I wondered what stories he could tell were he to talk; but, then I realized that by everything that he did the only thing that Jason kept saying by his actions was a song, “Your grace still amazes me, your love is still a mystery, each day I fall on my knees—your grace still amazes me.”  A few weeks ago, Jason died and everyone had praised me for taking a old dog and for the care I had given him.  I guess you could say that I was glorified because of Jason; but, you see, my purpose was to give him my love and to share with him my joy and now to share with him my glory as I continue to tell his story.  How much like Jason I was before God!!  I was a scarred wandering lonely soul caged within this world of my own sin filled heart.  There were many others more brilliant, more beautiful, and more capable of displaying their own righteousness. Yet, God chose me.  He has shared His love, His Joy and His Glory with me.  Because of that, I have been transformed.  The more I see His Glorious Righteousness, the more I become emptied of my self-exalting, covetous heart until I become a mirror which reflects back His Glory to Him self.  I become content to sit in His presence and I still sing each day  “Your Grace Still Amazes Me, Your Love is still a mystery.  Each day I fall on my knees, Your Grace Still Amazes me”  The end result is that God’s glory is magnified, not because of anything I could ever do; instead because of His Love.  God’s purpose in choosing me was not His own Glory and though it is the end result of it all; His purpose was to share His love with me, to share His joy with me and to share His Glory with me. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClAJO2tnQ

 

“A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires. Their hope is a humble hope; and their joy, even when it is unspeakable and full of glory, is a humble broken-hearted joy, and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit, and more like a little child, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behaviour.”

― Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections

With so many pressures and sorrows surrounding us each day we perhaps can understand the broken-hearted part of what Jonathan Edwards speaks of in this quote more than what we can understand the unspeakable, full of glory Joy or Hope.  So often it may seem that we are holding tight to a very tiny ray of hope, just enough to get out of bed this morning to the next 5 minutes; yet, that ray carries us on to the next 5 as well and so on.  We may feel the pains of great sorrow; yet, there is an under girding of hope, peace and even joy that helps us to remember where our source of hope is–our Heavenly Father.  We very much like a child cling to our Father’s hand; knowing it is there that we are safe.  When our hearts would fear, we seek His face; much like a child when lost in a crowd frantically searches for his father’s face.  Still, there are two truths that can always be an anchor to our soul whenever the storms of life would beat furiously upon us.

Hebrews 6: ¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

²⁰ Whither the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

1.  God cannot lie and He has promised to all who would believe in Christ, His grace sufficient for each day.

2.  Jesus Christ is our high priest and has paid the penalty for our sin so that our position and son-ship stands firmly anchored in heaven by His atoning sacrifice.

Listen to the words of this beautiful song and let it up lift you  

Lead me Lord, lead me by the hand and help me face the rising sun.  Comfort me through all the pain that life may bring.  There is no other hope that I can lean on. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgdQPGjen4

For anyone who is feeling shaky or heavy burdened, please take the time to listen to John Piper’s  sermon Hope Anchored in Heaven.   http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/hope-anchored-in-heaven

Below is an excerpt:

This is the anchor of verse 19 which continues verse 18: "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul." In other words: What anchors our soul is not our subjective confidence, but the sure objective reality that God has promised. This is our anchor. And this is what we are to lay hold of.

The Certainty of Our Hope

So the writer’s point is that what we are hoping for is absolutely sure. He uses three descriptions of the anchor to stress this. In verse 19b he calls the anchor (the hope), "both (1) sure and (2) steadfast and (3) one which enters within the veil." The anchor is sure, certain and safe. The anchor is steadfast, firm and reliable. The anchor is lodged within the veil. This is a reference to the veil that hung across the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and concealed the arc of the covenant where God in his glory met with the high priest once a year as he brought a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people.

So what’s the point of saying that our hope is an anchor lodged in the heavenly holy of holies where God’s glory dwells? Verse 20 fills it out. This is where Jesus has gone as a forerunner for us (which means we will enter with him someday). And he has gone as a high priest. Not in the order of Aaron and Levi—who (1) had to offer sacrifices for themselves and for the people (5:3; 7:27), and (2) who died and had to be replaced year by year (7:23), and (3) who offered the blood of bulls and goats which could never take away sins (10:4). But Jesus entered into the holy of holies once for all with his own infinitely precious blood and his own indestructible life so that his atoning work for us is perfect and lasts for ever. This is what verse 20 means when it says that Jesus "has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

So our anchor—our promised future—is sure; it is steadfast; and it is the finished and purchased work of Jesus our High Priest.

So last week the writer helps us hold fast our hope by telling us that it is based on two unchangeable things: God’s promise and God’s oath to bless us forever. This week he helps us hold fast our hope by telling us that our promised future (our hope) is "an anchor of the soul" that is sure and steadfast and as complete and binding as the work of Jesus in shedding his blood for our sins and taking it himself into the presence of God to plead the case of those he purchased.

What Is the Anchor of Your Soul?

Now here is the burning question for me. Is the anchor of my soul as firmly attached to my soul as it is to the altar of God? In other words is the picture here of an anchor with its hook and chain bound unbreakably to the altar of God in the holy of holies so that nothing could loose it from that end, but with the rope just hanging out of heaven in the air? Is the only point of this text to say "Take hold of the loose end of this rope and you will have safety and firmness and assurance"?

Would that give you the sense of security and confidence and hope and firmness that last week’s text and this text seem to be about? What was the point of an anchor in those days? It was to keep you from being blown by the wind or swept by the tide into destruction—out to sea or on the rocks. But what if someone said: I have fitted your boat with a good solid heavy anchor that will grip any sea-bottom, only have not made it fast to the boat. Would that give you encouragement?

I don’t think that is the image the author has in mind here. When he says in verse 19 that we have an "anchor of the soul" I think he means that the anchor is firmly anchored in heaven, and the anchor is firmly attached to the Christian’s soul.