There is a
certain sadness to life that we must not shrink from or avoid. We live
in a fallen world filled with the consequences of sin. And we must not
close our eyes to the suffering and become unsympathetic to those around
us who are hurting. Nor must we try to wall out the sadness and sorrow
in our own lives, as if it didn't exist, or as if there is something
wrong with us because it does exist. Our Savior Himself was called a
man of sorrow, a man acquainted with grief.
At the same time we must not let the sorrow or sadness or disappointment cloud our vision of faith and thus undermine our joy. Sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive but interdependent. As I see the sorrow in the world and in my life, I must see beyond it to the hand of a loving God who turns tears into rejoicing, who works all things together to glorify Himself and to do good for His people. I must see beyond to the day when grace and justice and mercy will triumph--our Hope--when all tears will be washed away and all things will be made right. Nothing enables me to more fully saturate myself with that joy than an honest, empathetic look at the fallen world around me and the scars such a world has place within me. Jesus will be victorious--over His creation and in the lives of His new creations.
Does any day say it more clearly than Resurrection Day? His creation had mourned at His death for sin. His disciples were heartbroken and fearful because He was gone and they had failed Him when He needed them the most. The women who loved Him came in great sorrow to anoint His body and wept uncontrollably when they thought they had even been denied that act of love. But all that sorrow was turned to joy. He was alive! He had arisen! Triumphantly! The world was still fallen and in need of a Savior. But now they had One! The creation still groaned waiting for the day of redemption. But now it was assured! His disciples had still failed and forsook Him. But now He would empower them to make disciples of the world! And He would never forsake them in their struggle to do so! The darkest and saddest days in the history of the world would be the foundation for its greatest joys.
May we as well, this Resurrection Day, when He lives, rejoice in our trials and sorrows as we triumphantly compare them to our Hope. He is one day closer to making all things well. We are one day closer to His loving embrace, to casting aside our momentary failures, disappointments, and inflicted sorrows in exchange for the joy of His eternal presence. And may we feel each day the joy of such a Savior and the guarantee of such promises. Please, live every day in the power of the joy of His resurrection. Because He lives, I can triumph over any yesterday, persevere through any today, and face whatever tomorrow may bring. He will never, no never, not for a single moment, under any circumstances, forsake me. "I serve a living Savior! He's in the world today. And just the time I need Him, He's ALWAYS there!"
At the same time we must not let the sorrow or sadness or disappointment cloud our vision of faith and thus undermine our joy. Sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive but interdependent. As I see the sorrow in the world and in my life, I must see beyond it to the hand of a loving God who turns tears into rejoicing, who works all things together to glorify Himself and to do good for His people. I must see beyond to the day when grace and justice and mercy will triumph--our Hope--when all tears will be washed away and all things will be made right. Nothing enables me to more fully saturate myself with that joy than an honest, empathetic look at the fallen world around me and the scars such a world has place within me. Jesus will be victorious--over His creation and in the lives of His new creations.
Does any day say it more clearly than Resurrection Day? His creation had mourned at His death for sin. His disciples were heartbroken and fearful because He was gone and they had failed Him when He needed them the most. The women who loved Him came in great sorrow to anoint His body and wept uncontrollably when they thought they had even been denied that act of love. But all that sorrow was turned to joy. He was alive! He had arisen! Triumphantly! The world was still fallen and in need of a Savior. But now they had One! The creation still groaned waiting for the day of redemption. But now it was assured! His disciples had still failed and forsook Him. But now He would empower them to make disciples of the world! And He would never forsake them in their struggle to do so! The darkest and saddest days in the history of the world would be the foundation for its greatest joys.
May we as well, this Resurrection Day, when He lives, rejoice in our trials and sorrows as we triumphantly compare them to our Hope. He is one day closer to making all things well. We are one day closer to His loving embrace, to casting aside our momentary failures, disappointments, and inflicted sorrows in exchange for the joy of His eternal presence. And may we feel each day the joy of such a Savior and the guarantee of such promises. Please, live every day in the power of the joy of His resurrection. Because He lives, I can triumph over any yesterday, persevere through any today, and face whatever tomorrow may bring. He will never, no never, not for a single moment, under any circumstances, forsake me. "I serve a living Savior! He's in the world today. And just the time I need Him, He's ALWAYS there!"
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