I would like to share a story. I doubt that it's true, made up to illustrate a great truth, one that few of us are willing to believe.
There once was a man who had become very successful and was extremely wealthy. He and his son enjoyed collecting art and had amassed a fortune in rare and famous paintings. Their home had become an art museum and many came to enjoy it.
Sadly, the son was killed in an accident; his father grieved deeply. When the father passed away he left a trust that stated an auction should be held and the art be sold to highest bidder. The word was passed along, and there was great excitement as the day of auction neared. The room was filled with anxious bidders who wanted a chance to buy these treasures.
Shortly before his death the father had commissioned an unknown artist to paint a portrait of his son. This portrait was the first piece to be auctioned off. There were some moans and groans from those present; they were impatient and wanted to see the 'real' treasures. The bidding started off very slowly. The auctioneer was finally able to get the bid up to $100 and the son's portrait was sold.
Excitement grew as the anticipated art waited to be displayed. Suddenly the auctioneer banged a gavel and declared the auction was closed. A huge uproar ensued. Then the auctioneer explained the terms of the owner's trust. He read, "The person who buys the portrait of my son will be given the whole collection of art." The buyer got it all! This is a picture of Father God giving His Son Jesus to those who would accept His love and forgiveness.
The moral of the story is this, If you have Jesus, you have everything. If we could comprehend this, what a joy our life would be! Everything you will ever need, God will supply. We all have a problem of wanting much more than we need, or not knowing exactly what we need. We humans can't resist trying to fill the void God created in us with everything and anything but Jesus. We think if we move to another location, have more money, impressive car, luxury vacations, designer clothes and as you get older, a pain free working body, then we'll be at peace and experience joy in our life. These things do satisfy for a moment, then we wake up one day and realize that we're the same person, still seeking something that is elusive, something we can't even describe. Depression may come.
My psychologist friends tell me it is at this point that many seek pleasure from drugs and alcohol, review their past and ruminate on who or what caused them pain, or what made them feel insecure and fearful. Now, armed with all this hurtful 'baggage', we're ready to attack! Most often those who've loved and nurtured us the most will be the ones who become the 'villain' in our blinded eyes. You see, this is what Satan does, blinds us to the truth.
We have trouble coping in a world that appears to be in Satan's control. But remember this, God is firmly in control, even though Satan is patrolling the earth watching everything that is going on - New Living Translation - Job 2:2. Notice in Job 2:3 the Lord himself points to Job and asks Satan to consider messing with his life - well, not in those words, but what he was saying to Satan was 'do what you want to my servant Job and see if he'll turn away from me.'
From Ephesians 1 we learn a lot about our heavenly Father and what He has done for us. Paul wrote this letter and starts out by saying he was chosen "by the will of God", so have we who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In verse 4...
"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. vs 5, God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through (his Son) Jesus Christ."
I love as we keep reading and studying we see how the Word punctuates itself.
Ephesians 1:11 - Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."
We often don't see the good in what God is doing in or life. He knew we wouldn't or couldn't so this is why we are to walk by faith which is believing in something we hope for, the evidence of things we we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1.
Just like the person who bought the portrait of the son, we can have it all, because Jesus is our all. There is nothing to fear, our lives, good and bad works, our very souls are firmly in the hands of Jesus who loved us and died for us. Get rid of your 'old self' - the person who always searched for 'happy', and be who you are - a child of God.
Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."
Thank you Lord for your Holy Word to help us navigate this treacherous world you put us in. On day, we'll understand it all, for now, give us peace, joy and help us to understand how very much you love those you've chosen to be in your eternal Kingdom.
My psychologist friends tell me it is at this point that many seek pleasure from drugs and alcohol, review their past and ruminate on who or what caused them pain, or what made them feel insecure and fearful. Now, armed with all this hurtful 'baggage', we're ready to attack! Most often those who've loved and nurtured us the most will be the ones who become the 'villain' in our blinded eyes. You see, this is what Satan does, blinds us to the truth.
We have trouble coping in a world that appears to be in Satan's control. But remember this, God is firmly in control, even though Satan is patrolling the earth watching everything that is going on - New Living Translation - Job 2:2. Notice in Job 2:3 the Lord himself points to Job and asks Satan to consider messing with his life - well, not in those words, but what he was saying to Satan was 'do what you want to my servant Job and see if he'll turn away from me.'
From Ephesians 1 we learn a lot about our heavenly Father and what He has done for us. Paul wrote this letter and starts out by saying he was chosen "by the will of God", so have we who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In verse 4...
"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. vs 5, God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through (his Son) Jesus Christ."
I love as we keep reading and studying we see how the Word punctuates itself.
Ephesians 1:11 - Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."
We often don't see the good in what God is doing in or life. He knew we wouldn't or couldn't so this is why we are to walk by faith which is believing in something we hope for, the evidence of things we we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1.
Just like the person who bought the portrait of the son, we can have it all, because Jesus is our all. There is nothing to fear, our lives, good and bad works, our very souls are firmly in the hands of Jesus who loved us and died for us. Get rid of your 'old self' - the person who always searched for 'happy', and be who you are - a child of God.
Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."
Thank you Lord for your Holy Word to help us navigate this treacherous world you put us in. On day, we'll understand it all, for now, give us peace, joy and help us to understand how very much you love those you've chosen to be in your eternal Kingdom.
