10 Sept 2014 - on that day

Jesus promises us that no matter how bad things seem now if we stick with him they will one day be made right. He makes all things work together for our good. It is hard to accept when we are hungry, thirsting, sad, hated, insulted, and mistreated. Yet, the grace he gives us this morning is to "Rejoice and leap for joy on that day", the very day on which we suffer, because of the hope that makes it meaningful. This hope isn't like earthly wishful thinking. It brings the victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ into the present moment through faith. It is joy and peace from the resurrection life that Jesus shares with us that can even pervade moments of deep pain. It is a hope that makes the resurrection real to us here and now and draws us onward and upward and upward thereby.

The other option is to be so busy trying to escape this suffering that we don't have time to hope. We spend our time clutching temporary riches, consolations, food, and good experiences. Even though they don't last long we spend so much of our attention on them that we can't see past them. We prevent ourselves from really knowing that "the world in its present form is passing away." And this is something we have to know and internalize if we want to really rejoice in the hope that Jesus gives us. We have to stop seeking solace in these things if we want the peace that only Jesus gives.

But he does not just give this joy in heaven. He comes that his joy may be in us and our joy may be complete (cf. Joh. 15:11). He wants us to have life in abundance (cf. Joh. 10:10). The Holy Spirit gives life even now to our mortal bodies (cf. Rom. 8:11). Love, joy, and peace, are the fruits on the Spirit in our lives even now (cf. Gal. 5:22). God already bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens (cf. Eph. 1:3). Is this not our experience? Have we been content to put it off, telling ourselves that we'll wait for heaven for it? If so, we're probably filling the void with earthly things that are passing away.

Let's not be content with that which is passing away. Jesus doesn't want us to wait. He wants us to receive these blessings here and now. But we must be willing to do as the daughter in the psalm.  We must forgot our people and our father's house. In other words, we must let go of our past ways and the comforts of familiarity. We must instead decide to find all of our fulfillment in the king.  He desires our beauty. He is our lord, and we must worship him!

We surrender that which know for something that lasts.

They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.