"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...In him was life, and that life was the light of men."
(John 1:1,4)
Life and light - the two things man had lost and has been in desperate need of ever since the Fall.
(Abstract from "Bride Adorned")
Often during this time of Lent and Easter, our focus is on our own sinfulness and the high price Jesus paid on the cross to redeem us. Yet today, with the cross in mind, I want to focus on life. Life - the essence, the purpose, the meaning and the hope of what happened on the cross. At creation, man was gifted with the fullness of life that is to be found in the presence and in the knowledge of God. It was a fullness of life with regard to man's spirit as well as his physical reality. Created in love and in the image of God, man not only enjoyed the fullness of communion with his Creator but also fullness of life as was found in his body and in the Garden of Eden.
With the Fall, both of these - man's spirit and his physical reality - were touched and scarred by death itself. Lost was all fullness of life. Hence forward, life in our bodies together with all life springing up from the earth was to be cursed...broken...leading only to death on all levels. This was the plan of Satan and the doing of man.
With the Fall, both of these - man's spirit and his physical reality - were touched and scarred by death itself. Lost was all fullness of life. Hence forward, life in our bodies together with all life springing up from the earth was to be cursed...broken...leading only to death on all levels. This was the plan of Satan and the doing of man.
Just yesterday, a dear friend who is battling with cancer, told me how a family member of hers asked her how a loving God could allow this suffering in her life and how she could serve, love and believe in such a God...a God who did nothing about all the pain and hurt in life.
Listening to her, Jesus' words from John 16:33 came to mind: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Maybe for the first time ever, I truly understood the full meaning of these words. Far from not doing anything at all about the pain and hurt in life, God has done the ultimate thing in Christ - He has brought a complete end to it! He has fully overcome it. It will not last. It will be no more. A time has been ordained when there will be no more sickness; when no-one will ever again fear or battle cancer or aids or any kind of disease. There will be no more addictions or depression, fear and hatred and no more broken and hurtful relationships. No more tears. No more sin, transgression and wickedness. Christ overcame and set an end to it all, and in its place He made something new...
Dear friend, we know that the time for this to be fulfilled has not yet come, but it will. Of this we have been given a guarantee. "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:22) We are not left as orphans in this broken world and old order of things. We have received a divine Helper to strengthen, guide, encourage and comfort us so that we will not perish under the weight of life's struggles and sorrows. Not denying the pain, the difficulty or the cost...this is truth. Ask any Christian and they will testify to the sustaining and renewing power of the Holy Spirit within. To those who have not received the Spirit of Christ, this is above understanding but to those who have, it is wisdom and newness of life.
Yesterday evening, I myself was again reminded of this beautiful truth of new life. After just more than two years filled with the adventure, adrenalin and excitement of writing a book, I find myself in a slightly lost place - reluctant to return my full focus to the mundane tasks of the everyday life of a mother and wife, yet still without a vision for any new ministry ventures. (Does anyone else know what I am talking about!?!) As the days pass by I start to wonder about myself...how can I find myself in such a place after such a great ministry 'high'? Have I wandered away from God? Will He use me again? What is my purpose?
Then, yesterday evening, I received a text message from a very precious friend who has no idea of the strange space I'm in. As I read the message, my heart leapt at the following words: "In God's time, you will find new dreams, new growth taking place. In waiting for Him to come, you'll find He's already there." Oh how my heart rejoiced!
This is our God...He makes all things new...He gives life.
Looking at the cross, let us celebrate the 'Life of men' who poured out His blood to cover us so that eternal death would pass us over. Let us celebrate the new life He promised is coming...a life that can never again be scarred by the consequences of sin. Let us celebrate the life of the Holy Spirit in us, sustaining, lifting and carrying us through every challenge we may face whilst waiting for the glorious return of Christ, our Groom and, last of all, let us celebrate the newness of life found in the break of every new dawn...filling us with the promise of new dreams and new growth even in this life!
I wish you all a blessed, life-filled Easter.
Until after Easter (I will not be posting next week on Good Friday),
God bless
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" (Rev 21:1-5)
Dear friend, we know that the time for this to be fulfilled has not yet come, but it will. Of this we have been given a guarantee. "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:22) We are not left as orphans in this broken world and old order of things. We have received a divine Helper to strengthen, guide, encourage and comfort us so that we will not perish under the weight of life's struggles and sorrows. Not denying the pain, the difficulty or the cost...this is truth. Ask any Christian and they will testify to the sustaining and renewing power of the Holy Spirit within. To those who have not received the Spirit of Christ, this is above understanding but to those who have, it is wisdom and newness of life.
Yesterday evening, I myself was again reminded of this beautiful truth of new life. After just more than two years filled with the adventure, adrenalin and excitement of writing a book, I find myself in a slightly lost place - reluctant to return my full focus to the mundane tasks of the everyday life of a mother and wife, yet still without a vision for any new ministry ventures. (Does anyone else know what I am talking about!?!) As the days pass by I start to wonder about myself...how can I find myself in such a place after such a great ministry 'high'? Have I wandered away from God? Will He use me again? What is my purpose?
Then, yesterday evening, I received a text message from a very precious friend who has no idea of the strange space I'm in. As I read the message, my heart leapt at the following words: "In God's time, you will find new dreams, new growth taking place. In waiting for Him to come, you'll find He's already there." Oh how my heart rejoiced!
This is our God...He makes all things new...He gives life.
Looking at the cross, let us celebrate the 'Life of men' who poured out His blood to cover us so that eternal death would pass us over. Let us celebrate the new life He promised is coming...a life that can never again be scarred by the consequences of sin. Let us celebrate the life of the Holy Spirit in us, sustaining, lifting and carrying us through every challenge we may face whilst waiting for the glorious return of Christ, our Groom and, last of all, let us celebrate the newness of life found in the break of every new dawn...filling us with the promise of new dreams and new growth even in this life!
I wish you all a blessed, life-filled Easter.
Until after Easter (I will not be posting next week on Good Friday),
God bless
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