Tuesday, May 5, 2015

We Know Where We Are Going

No, man is not floating in a dreary emptiness, with no clear idea where he is headed.

Faith is not a blind leap into absurdity, either.

Faith is an intelligent recognition of all that Jesus has done, even if the immediate physical manifestation is not keen present to us:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1)

This faith is not about getting a new car or your own home, but about recognizing what Jesus did at the Cross:

"17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." (Hebrews 11: 17-19)

The figure mentioned above? None other but Christ Jesus!

"39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11: 39-40)

What promise? The writer of Hebrews explains in the next chapter:

"1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Faith is about . . . .Jesus!

He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14: 6)

We know where He is going:

"1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." (John 14: 1-4)

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, does speak of end time destructions. Yet for those who believe in Jesus, there is nothing but glory awaiting us in Him:

"1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22: 1-5)

I used to live in chronic fear, bedeviled with questions like: "What about tomorrow? What if?"

The argument that I should "just trust God" was not acceptable. In fact, Jesus Himself never forced that standard on anyone:

"But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." (John 10: 38)

We know where we are going because we have the promise of His reign, and because of the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness, we reign in life with Him (Romans 5:17)

We know where we are going, and we know that He is with us for the entire ride.

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