Following on from Mis-Match #1: 'we fear death, not God', here is a wonderful quote a friend of mine sent me a while ago.
“how strange this fear of death is! we are never frightened at a sunset. / you can only come to the morning through the shadows"
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Mis-Match #1: 'We fear death, not God'
Sometimes as Christians we will do anything to avoid suffering, pain and death in this world. There's insurance, health policies, medication and door locks; all of which in themselves are not bad things at all.
But what is our heart's position in all this? In our lives do we end up fearing illness, suffering and death more than the God who thought up, and brought up, this whole universe into being?
Once saved by Christ we are brought from death to life (Colossians 1:13). This doesn't mean that we won't get ill or suffer or die, but that death can never ultimately define our direction as those who have been saved, because Christ does. So there really is no need to fear death: with Christ we can wholeheartedly say "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"- 1 Corinthians 15:55. This assurance can never come about through anything other than a saving relationship with Jesus!
When we are told that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 9:10), it essentially tells us that when we begin to see God for who He is, we'll actually be able to see everything else for what it is.
This fear isn't an unhealthy anxiety filled knowledge of God- but rather an acknowledgment of who He is in ALL his glory, grace and power.
Right, this is all quite rushed, and my laptop battery is about to die (the irony)! So to sumerise: death doesn't deserve our fear, but God does!
But what is our heart's position in all this? In our lives do we end up fearing illness, suffering and death more than the God who thought up, and brought up, this whole universe into being?
Once saved by Christ we are brought from death to life (Colossians 1:13). This doesn't mean that we won't get ill or suffer or die, but that death can never ultimately define our direction as those who have been saved, because Christ does. So there really is no need to fear death: with Christ we can wholeheartedly say "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"- 1 Corinthians 15:55. This assurance can never come about through anything other than a saving relationship with Jesus!
When we are told that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 9:10), it essentially tells us that when we begin to see God for who He is, we'll actually be able to see everything else for what it is.
This fear isn't an unhealthy anxiety filled knowledge of God- but rather an acknowledgment of who He is in ALL his glory, grace and power.
Right, this is all quite rushed, and my laptop battery is about to die (the irony)! So to sumerise: death doesn't deserve our fear, but God does!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Christian Mis-Matches
Hey all.
So after a short break from blogging I thought i'd start up again with a series on 'Christian Mis-Matches'.
Our world-view (how we interpret life and the world around us) can often be warped and rooted in things other than the Grace and Truth of the gospel. In light of this, as those who have entered into a relationship with Christ, we will look at six biblical truths which might challenge how we look at things.
We'll be kicking off this series with 'Fear God, not death'.
So after a short break from blogging I thought i'd start up again with a series on 'Christian Mis-Matches'.
Our world-view (how we interpret life and the world around us) can often be warped and rooted in things other than the Grace and Truth of the gospel. In light of this, as those who have entered into a relationship with Christ, we will look at six biblical truths which might challenge how we look at things.
We'll be kicking off this series with 'Fear God, not death'.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)