| "For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"
(Romans 8:18 AV). How many times when attempting to comfort another
going through one of life’s storms do we use words that are based on the
hope of the believer, and the future resurrection of all into the glory of
Christ? Which of us has not quoted Romans 8:28 when trying to explain how
a tragic event isn’t quite as bad as it appears to us now, and will be
used of God for good? While these are Scriptural truths, there are few if
any who can accept them at face value at the time. It takes preparation
before the storm, to ride out the storm in the safety of the shelter we
"hope" is there in such times.
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and
the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea" (Revelation
21:1 AV). Here is the truth of that next life. While most of us
turn to the verses that speak of no more tears, here is the real answer of
why all that happens in this world is a beggarly price to pay for that
eternal life to come. We find the answer not in the promise of that new
city made not with hands that lies eternal in the heavens, but in the
little word sea. "There was no more sea" is the most powerful
statement in all of the Scripture, as it testifies to the complete
sovereignty of God, and His ability to do that which He proposes.
What, you ask is this man raving about now? Think for a moment what the
word sea implies in the Bible. It is a symbol of the world outside God’s
chosen people. Remember the beast of Revelation comes from this
"sea." Consider that there is not one single misery known to
mankind that is not the direct result of sin. The very ground we walk upon
and every creature that resides upon it is cursed because of the sin of
man, and awaits this glorious day when there will be no more sea. You see
we wait not for the glory of the heavenly body and city we all shall know
one day as followers of Christ, but the removal of the burden of sin. That
new body and new city would soon be no better than the present without the
removal of the evil leaven of sin. Thus that new home is eternal. We await
the defeat of one last enemy, physical death of the body. Yet the wages of
sin are death (meaning physical and spiritual) and if the mere possibility
of it existed, the resurrection into that incorruptible body would not be
sure for all eternity.
This seems an odd statement since in the first glimpse of the heavenly
city includes a crystal sea and rivers. But here then we find that the
idea of a crystal, calm and beautiful sea is the exact opposite of the
bodies of water that have defied the harnessing of their raw power by
mankind. It is then the removal of the sea of sin in which we live,
surrounded on all sides by enemies more deadly than those which caused
David to write the inspired Psalms that brings real hope to us of that
eternal rest in Christ. That which any and all sufferings of the present
are as nothing when compared to that glorious day.
However I am more pragmatic than that and look for the how of living in
the present as much as holding on to the hope we have in that day when
there will be no more sea. Keeping that future day alive gives to us the
strength to endure the trials of this life. It is not wrong advice to
another or even self in times of duress and temptation. That alone however
will not sustain us through this veil of tears without more hurt than I
believe God would have us suffer if we would take the time to know and
claim the fantastic words of promise contained in His revealed Word.
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father" (Romans 8:15 AV). What do we fear? I don’t think
death itself holds any real fear for the believer. I believe the real fear
is the unknown. We have not seen that world without a sea, it must be
embraced by faith alone. Paul points out that which is of hope is not
present, or it would not be hope. But we do have faith, for it is both the
gift of God, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It is
only thus it could be written that we cannot please God without faith.
From the creation of the world, God has always provided for us that which
He required of us, before He made the requirement manifest to us. Consider
the very order of creation and that man was created last, so that all that
he could possibly need for survival and to fulfill the dominion mandate
were already in place, provided ahead of the need by a God of love and
understanding. It is then a truth that if we will take the time and effort
to fully understand this future hope we have in Christ, and the ability of
God to do what He has said, we have a hope that will withstand the test of
this temporal world.
Yet even here God has not left us to fight these battles alone. In
times of great stress either from the turmoil of the mind, the press for
time, or from doubt itself, we all will fail to pray as we should. The
source of power we need to ride out the storm in safety, is not to be
found in our minds, as we turn this way and that to meet one demand, one
foe at a time. Yet how wonderfully God has provided for us in times such
as these. "Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered"
(Romans 8:26 AV). How good He is to us!
With such meditation we then can agree with Paul that indeed we are
more than conquerors through Christ who loved us enough to provide for all
ours needs, before we are even aware of the need (Rom. 8:37). With such
preparation through the reading and meditation on the Word of God, we can
make sense out of Rom. 8:28, though we don’t understand how God can, by
faith we know all things are possible with God. After the battle is
engaged it is too late for preparation. Waiting for the funnel cloud to
appear before taking cover will provide scant if any covering, and you
will be tossed to and fro in the whirlwinds of life. We don’t attempt to
cram as for an exam in living the Christian life, but continually in our
daily life we find the time to replenish the hope within and feed our soul
with the Word of Life.
From such daily devotion to the Word of God we can come to the sureness
Paul shares in the most beautiful words a fearful heart will ever hear "For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(Romans 8:38-39 AV). So you see we have no need to fear because God
has before time prepared the means, and through the Holy Spirit insured
our access to the source of His own power, and guaranteed the end by the
sureness of His Sovereign Word. Take heart then in the storms of life, for
God himself is the rock of your salvation, not only in hope for tomorrow,
but in the battles of today.
By: Dr. Chuck Baynard
|
