Ever wonder how much longer the world, as it is, will last?
Scientists constantly research ways they think the world will end. Ironic in a way. Especially since the same scientists are constantly hammering home the idea that man can protect the planet from destruction. Green products: light-bulbs, solar panels, windmills, hybrid vehicles. My husband told me some gas stations are beginning to install natural gas pumps because many truckers are going to be switching over from diesel-powered 18-wheelers to natural-gas powered semis. I find that so interesting.
On one hand, man and science seek to protect our environment as if we can avoid earth's destruction. On the other hand they research and report about mega-asteroids, solar flares, and monstrous volcanoes that threaten to annihilate the human race and millions of earth's species--an admission of sorts. Mankind inevitably cannot protect itself. Of course, science explains it one way, and the Bible another. Man without God cannot overcome the inevitable. Yet, we who know Jesus shall overcome because Jesus has already overcome the world:
4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" Biblos 1John 5:4-5
It's especially calming and comforting to know that being born of God grants us the power to overcome the world and its trial and difficulties. Through Christ, we have the strength, the faith, the hope we need to meet each volcanic threat, each solar flare, each astronomical crisis that comes our way.
We can overcome the world. As we take the first step of faith and respond to the Lord's voice to come, to go, to do, to obey, to stand, to be courageous, He gives us what we need to meet the challenge or obstacle in our our path. Sometimes man tries to pull himself up by the bootstraps, or fix his own life. I've met people who think that they have to change their lifestyle in order to come to Jesus. In order to know God, they think they must correct themselves. They look at themselves and their own inadequacies, weaknesses, and failures and cannot imagine how they can ever change. They have that a bit backwards. When we hear the gospel, and are convicted of our sin against a holy God, then respond in faith, we take the initiative through the Spirit of God's empowerment. In "My Utmost For His Highest", Oswald Chambers writes it this way regarding "the inspiration of spiritual initiative":
"When the inspiration of God does come, it comes with such miraculous power that we are able to arise from the dead and do the impossible thing. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life comes after we do the "bucking up". God does not give us overcoming life; He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says--"Arise from the dead," we have to get up; God does not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand--"Stretch forth thy hand," and as soon as the man did so, his hand was healed, but he had to take the initiative. If we will do the overcoming, we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives life immediately." Feb 16th
"God does not give us overcoming life; He gives us life as we overcome." This little sentence reminds me of the Israelites walk into the Red Sea. It did not part till Moses stretched forth his hand. {Exodus 14:21-31] The Jordan River did not part till the men who carried the ark of the covenant stepped into the water. {Joshua 3] Naaman did not get clean until he dipped himself in the river 7 times. {2 Kings 5:14] The ten lepers were not cleansed of their leprosy until they turned to go to the priests.{Luke 17:11-19] The lady with the bleeding malady was not healed till she reached out and touched the hem of Christ's garment. {Mark 5:25-29] Faith led the way. Again and again through Scripture, in the Old Testament and through the New Testament, we see the faith that results in the power of God to act and overcome all situations.
Before I believed that God would change me, I had to recognize I could not change myself or my circumstances, and then believe He could. I had no idea how He would do that, but the step of faith I took carried me forward into His everlasting presence and unfailing strength. When God quickens the spirit within a spiritually dead person who turns to Him in faith, He fills each with His Holy Spirit and empowers each to believe His promises, and know His Son in a personal way. The more we grow in our faith, we more we are able to overcome what seems impossible to endure. And the greater the peace we have in our lives.
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Do you have a dilemma you cannot solve? Have you lost hope? Is the world you've trusted dissolving around you? Turn in faith to Christ, He has overcome the world. selahV Today
Great post. Very comforting.
Thank you!
Posted by: Steve Martin | June 09, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Steve, thanks. glad to have you stop in to visit. selahV
Posted by: selahV-hariette | June 10, 2012 at 01:58 PM