Immortals....

It’s been said that really are no “ordinary people” in the world.  I spoke at a funeral yesterday about one of those “not-ordinary” people.  It was a young mother,  whose life was cut short by cancer.  I married her and her husband 18 years ago in California.  People like Natalie, and many others I have known,  illustrates and reminds me that we never really talk to, and live among, mere mortals on this earth. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – those are mortal—they come and go like a mist. But it is immortals, such as Natalie,  with whom we joke, work, marry, and love.

You are sitting this evening among immortals—-beings who will live forever.  Each of us, and those reading this devotion, will live eternally, either in God’s presence, or in darkness, but immortally.  I don’t think we talk about this enough. We’re just alive for just 80, 90 or 100 years. We were imagined, created and received the image of God to live forever.

So when we face death, or a staggering loss, or an incurable disease, or lose our job or a friendship, or we feel we’re being attacked on all sides from all the powers of hell, what can we say?   Well, here’s what Paul said:

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;  we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8 31-39, NIV

Paul’s words should be a skip in your step when you’re tempted to give up and wonder if God really cares.  Listen: IF GOD IS FOR US—-what does anything else matter??? DOES ANYTHING ELSE MATTER!  To prove the point Paul of just how important we are and how we enjoy being the apple of God’s eye, he points out: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all thing!”  Does that not thrill your!

And yes, there are things I want in my life that I have not received yet and things are not going the way I hope quite routinely!  There are dreams I groan for and many challenges and trials of which I am weary—-after years of prayer—are just not transpiring!  But I must never listen to the enemy when he suggests that I am not being blessed or feeling God’s peace because God is against me. It’s a lie!  He is for me—-and He is for you.  But we live in a kingdom and domain that is not of God’s intention, plan or ultimate purpose. We live on planet earth—-corrupt and crooked—enemy territory.  We pine and pray and hope for how things ought to be. It’s coming!  But the fact that we groan and strain is proof that we know life should not be like this!  

We will have moments of great success, feelings of accomplishments and occasions of utter joy!  But those are fleeting glimpses and visions of how things will be in heaven, not how things will always be, nor will those good feelings remain while we’re on this temporal place.  Enjoy those good times—yes—but remember, we enjoy because we know that it’s the way it’s supposed to be all the time—-but it’s only occasional  because of the brokenness of this place.

But Paul follows up with such hope and I needed it this week.   He says, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”  Don’t these words, from one who was constantly being laughed at, attacked, accused and arrested encourage you?

We’re free to live, unfettered, by some silly suspicion that maybe we’ve got it all wrong!  My freedom is not based upon all my good works or kind actions or even my genuine sorrow for my sins!  All those things are significant and great to purse!  But my freedom and unfettered and full life—- to live fearlessly—- is based upon my certainty that Jesus took my sins away—-all of them—-on calvary’s cross—-that He raised from the dead by His Father—-and that He is, even as I speak, interceding on my behalf, for every error, sin, mistake or blunder I make—-and I’ve committed a few this week and am likely to add to that ledger this coming week!

Those mistakes and my personal failures leads me to remorse, yes,  because the Holy Spirit resides in my heart, but if I am not careful, it can also lead to depression, anxiety and doubt about God’s love and the efficacy of the cross.  I am not saying that you should feel good about sin——never!  But you fail in your walk, admit it(!) confess your sins to the Lord, turn around go back to living.  NO ONE is bringing charges against you now—-or in heaven—if you are “in Christ”. It’s all been erased. Praise God! It’s gone!  It’s been bleached clean by the blood of Jesus. We don’t need to fret about God striking us with a disease or punishing us. Yes, He gets our attention if we get off the path, but we’re His—and He is ours!

Those “outside of Christ” (and perhaps some of the immature within the body) might think we’re “finished”, or “ruined”, or “never going to rise again”, when they see us suffer or are slandered and insulted, but they don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of God. We’re told, ““For your sake we face death all day long;  we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  (But) no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8 31-39, NIV

Believe this!!!!

Nothing can stop God’s plan, purpose and ultimate goals for us!  We are His children and handiwork!  Nothing is going to happen to you, or me, that catches Him unaware or flatfooted.  But, beware of thinking that life should be easy…..or that people should love and respect you….or that prayers are answered at the precise time and exact manner of our  choosing. Trust God to answer at the best possible time in the most excellent possible way—-and He does, every time.   But if you get in a hurry, or demand that He do things specifically as you demand, you’ll be a very neurotic child of God.  

As with Job, determine to cry out:  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him….

Warmly,

Dean Barley

1945 Vineyard Road

Westfield, NC 27053

336 351 2070

www.vineyardcamp.com