“Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everyting that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him.’” Luke 18:31-32
Jesus’ life was a disaster…an utter failure. And when He called the disciples, He called them to failure, too.
I hope that you find that offensive, that you immediately began arguing with me. “My Lord’s life was not a failure!”
We don’t look at Jesus’ life as a catastrophe. We use words to paint it as a victory, but words are cheap. Do we live our own life of earthly failure as though we are victorious just as Jesus did? Or do we measures by material success? The one with the most toys wins. We say Jesus’ suffering was a victory, but we live our suffering as defeat.
It’s discouraging when prosperity doesn’t come our way, when we don’t get the car we want, or that promotion fell through or the house isn’t big enough. “Please, Lord, won’t you by me a Mecedes Benz. My friends all drive Porches. I must make amends.”
One pastor is more successful than another because of the size of the congregation. And how many Christians have gone into business for themselves only to have financial trouble despite the best laid plans and people whisper in hushed tones about the shame and pity of it failing. Or maybe we lament a once great ministry that experiences lean times, maybe even collapse!
“Oh woe is me! How could it be God’s will for me to suffer so? Why doesn’t He smile on me? If I were in God’s will everything would be wonderful. What a terrible, horrible life! Nobody likes me, I think I’ll go eat worms.”
GET OVER IT! READ THE END OF THE BOOK AND CLAIM THE VICTORY! It’s when we are willing to see and accept God’s purpose that we will see the victory. Life is a lot less confusing and frustrating when we abandon our plan for His!
If my life is not as successful as I had planned, then I’m obviously outside of God’s will, or am I? My heart rejoices that when Jesus stood before Pilate, was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, or collapsed under the weight of His own cross on the Via Delarosa and His life flashed before His eyes He didn’t see it as out of God’s will. He was called to death, but He marched willingly to defeat as to victory. We are called there, too. But it is only by the grace of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ that I can claim it as victorious.
“Behold, He comes with the clouds…” Rev. 1:7
This is almost too much fun! When the clouds are on the horizon, look for Him…He’s there.
The wind stirs, the horizon darkens. Mountains of black clouds continue their ominous advance overhead. What was once a mirror of crystal clear water quickly becomes a churning froth of whitecaps. A few moments ago twelve men were being lulled to sleep by the gentle sway, now stomachs sour as the tiny boat is thrashed by roiling peaks. They look for a miracle, but all that’s there is a mirage of a man walking on the water.
Maybe this one’s more appropriate…
Same guys, same circumstances, but the one who would save them is asleep. Seemingly oblivious to the roaring of the wind and tossing of the boiling sea. “He’s never around when He’s really needed”, some of them were sure to have grumbled. “Doesn’t He know what’s going on, what we’re going through?”
Or how about the old testament…
A few folks are making a break for it, they’ve had enough of Pharaoh and his bricks. Then comes one of those times in life’s journey when there is only one thing to do. With a cloud of dust from the world’s greatest army rolling up behind them and millions of tons of water before them they do what the best of us would do, plop down on the ground give up and sulk.
So there stood the Isrealites with a cloud of dust stalking from the rear. But hovering over the Red Sea was another cloud. And that cloud represented the very presence of God.
The “Great I Am” Himself was leading the children of Israel. They had seen the plagues, it was their first born who were spared, they had seen the pillar of fire and cloud, but they still lacked faith. They plopped down in the sand, grumbling and complaining. And that was their general disposition the whole time the cloud was in front of them. They complained when manna fell from the clouds in the sky, they complained about the quail that came from the clouds. When God was in the cloud over Mount Sinai, they complained. I’ll bet they even complained about the weather being cloudy. Years later God made them march around Jericho silently, probably just for some peace and quiet from the complaining.
And it continued on, whenever there were clouds, God was there, but they complained anyway.
Even into the New Testament. On the sea of Galilee the disciples squint through the driving wind and rain at Jesus walking on the water, but they doubt and complain. Even when He’s in the boat with them, they grumble about His inaction. Right there He was! They knew the history of the God of Abraham and they’d seen His very Son perform miracles, raise the dead, and heal the sick_ah, there it is! Maybe they were so captivated by the miracles that they hadn’t allowed their hearts to be captured by His grace.
Are we any better? When the storms come, when “Behold, He comes in the clouds”, do we see Him or do we see rain? Does the Son shine or do we get all wet? Do we seek His will or sulk in our own gray fog?
As the lightening flashes and the thunder rumbles, as the gale blows and the waves overwhelm, is our faith rooted in the finite world of the visible or the infinite Kingdom of God? When the ground collapses beneath our feet – financial hardship, emotional upheaval, illness, death — is our trust in the healing or the Healer? Don’t be distracted by the temporary miracles of prosperity and healing, cling to the infinite restoration of a heart to the Savior!
And welcome the storms of life. Look for Him moving quietly in the clouds, He’s there. Ready to restore and calm the child.