Not Used to Sitting Down -- But Getting There

For the longest time, I was plagued, obsessed even with knowing what was going to happen tomorrow.

If I did not have some idea, some complacent sense of what was manageable, then I wouldn't venture to do. . .anything.

That kind of frustration and pain defined my daily life.

Every day, I was going out into the world, not sure of what I was going to find.

I had no assurance from day to day that Daddy God was watching out for me.

None.

There is still a great temptation in my life, wanting to know how things will turn out.

Then I read this powerful passage in the Gospel of Mark:

"35And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4: 35-41)

Jesus did tell the disciples that they would cross over to the other side. Yet that calm assurance never gave me peace, and it certainly did not help the disciples. When the storms raged, and water rolled into the boat, they got scared, and even questioned Jesus as they yelled at him: "Don't you care?"
They were probably very afraid, too.

Yet when Jesus rebuked the storm, they were MORE afraid.

It is not enough for us to know the future. It is not enough for us to know where we are going.

We need to know that He is there with us and for us!

In other words, we need to know that He is no longer angry with us, and He is on our side.

I believe that He is on my side, and the proof is the Cross:

"5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

"6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)

 

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Could it be any clearer?

 

Today, I admit that I am still getting used to sitting down, just as Jesus has already sat down, and I am seated with Him (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

 

No one had ever told me this before. I wish that I had learned about it before. I wish that I had known that He had taken care of everything.

 

Today, though, I can look over all the yesterdays, all the setbacks, and realize that there is nothing wrong with me, because Jesus paid for all the wrongs.

 

I am not used to being seated. This  morning, even, the first temptation is to "do something" about something else. Then I look to the Cross, and I remember, that and event, not a mindset, set me free.

Not our minds, but His death and resurrection, brings us the truth who sets us free!

Something else comes to mind: we do indeed know how everything is going to turn out:

"20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. {THE END.} (Revelation 22: 20-21)

 

Even Romans 5:17 tells us what we are destined for:

 

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

 

It speaks of our future, in Christ Jesus -- we shall reign in life by One!

 

We do not reign in life, until we understand that He is our life (Colossians 3: 1-4), and we cannot receive His life if we do not understand His death, where we have eternal everlasting righteousness accorded to us (Daniel 9: 24), established (Isaiah 54: 14) through Jesus, our Great High Priest forever (Hebrews 7: 17).

 

He sat down (Hebrews 1:3), and I am learning that I am seated, too.

 

That's what growing in grace is all about!