The Other Side
On the day when Jesus told the Disciples to get into the boat, saying "Let us go over to the other side of the lake,” they launched out, most probably expecting clear sailing. But while Jesus slept, they were hit by a severe storm that threatened their lives. When they awakened Jesus, after calming the storm, He simply said, “Where is your faith?” as if to say “Didn’t I tell you we were going to the other side?” (Luke 8:22-24) In the middle of their trial, they became so focused on the present difficulty they forgot they were on a mission to the other side.
Likewise, you and I can be so focused on current conditions, we forget God has promised better things for us (Heb. 6:9). Paul says our present troubles are momentary and light compared to what is on the other side—something beyond comparison (2 Cor. 4:17).
Of course the problem for me and you is that when we are going through a time of suffering, we are often perplexed, and we do not know what is on the other side. When I lay in the hospital for 12 days last month after my surgery, I was able to look out the large window of my 9th floor room at the Phoenix skyline. While I was feeling so confined by all my tubes and needles, I just knew God was reminding me that just on the other side of my present suffering was a wide open realm of opportunity.
"So don't look at the troubles you can see now; rather, fix your gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things you see now will soon be gone, but the things you cannot see will last forever" (2 Cor. 4:18).
Good morning Dr. Greg,
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us again in the communicating world! We have missed you! I have been remiss in not commenting on your last post (though I check every day to see if there is a new one). In commenting on the last post and this one, a few things I would note (and would dearly appreciate your thoughts on):
- Fear and Hope are the expressions of faith of the emotions that reveal our understanding of the truth.
- Emotions are tools to assist us in coping with a sinful, hurt, dying world that is subject to judgment and redemption. As such, they make good servants (sometimes as the hidden messenger into our inner selves) but terrible masters.
- Used properly (fearing the proper thing to fear, hoping in the proper thing) can be wonderful additions in living the abundant life (God in every moment). Used improperly, they can unwind all of the blessings that are in our life.
Wishing you all of God's best always!
Larry Q
Hello Larry
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words... and for your insights. I have always taught that emotions are like the red lights on your dash board. In and of themselves, they are less signigicant than what they tell you about your engine (your mind/thinking/attitude). We are told not to fear, not to be anxious, not to hope/put our trust in mankind... but in God alone. If this paradigm is correct, then our emotions are the things of our soul that reveal our understanding of truth. I always say "dead people don't get anxious or angry!" When we are dead to our self-life, then the emotional components of our self-life are no longer governing us!
Godspeed to you too, Greg