The Overflow

Trudging through life day to day makes it easy to forget real reality sometimes.

Do you ever stop to think about how this life is only temporary?

No, I don’t mean for you to simply give this a passing thought – have you really meditated on it?

Think about it …

If you’re following Jesus then all life’s troubles, all sorrows, all feelings of desperation, all the abuse, injustice, and bad situations you’ve experienced – every single time you’ve been made fun of, every time you’ve experienced pain; whether physically, mentally, or emotionally – everything distasteful, ugly, and vile that’s ever been in your life and will ever be in your life – every hurt, hangup, or horrible happening – every single negative no matter how big or how small – all, and I mean, all these things are temporary.

They’re not even a drop in the bucket for a disciple of Jesus. They’re not even a blink, because we know they won’t last. We know they aren’t rooted in power, and understand their end is destruction.

We understand real reality, and the real reality is that our eternity is secure because of what Jesus has done.

That’s why the apostle Paul could be beaten up, torn down, thrown out, or cast in – yet continue on. That’s why the Twelve went to their deaths telling people about Jesus, while others gave up house and home for Him only to be tracked down like dogs by Roman soldiers. That’s why early disciples of Jesus could have their skin filleted off while praying blessings upon their torturers, and why so many died in Roman arenas.

Were they afraid? You bet they were, but despite their fear they stood up for their belief in Jesus as the Son of God.

They understood that pain is only temporary, and the only thing on this side of heaven that really matters is Jesus – not just for the person following Him, but for everyone.

Be encouraged! Your pain is temporary, but Jesus Christ is eternal!

Regardless of your circumstance, meditate on this and come to understand real reality.

That is the key to joy in this life!

—
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade– kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that your faith– of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(NIV)