Do Not Lose Heart!

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame… For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body…Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” ~2 Cor. 4:1-2; 6-10; 16-18

Brothers,

Many times in my life I have struggled with depressed spirits. These times often follow periods of stress, tension, emotional struggles, or busy periods of time. With each one, however, I ask myself why even these circumstances would cause me to doubt God’s ultimate plan and purpose, for that is all that depression is: a spirit that is troubled because the focus is not on God, but on our own cares and worries. Yet all the powers of this feeble world cannot overcome the light that is within us. Tortures that make us cringe at the thought of so much pain carry the force of a feather against these verses. For what can man do against the Spirit of the Lord? I am in no way saying that you won’t experience any pain or struggle. In fact, unfeeling as it may sound, I pray that you would suffer pain and torture for Christ’s sake, for through such trials you will be purified and refined and you will be given a crown of glory in heaven. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, the grace of God is a costly grace: “costly because it calls us to follow, and grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. Costly because it costs a man his life, and grace because it gives a man the only true life.” Depression is but a tool of Satan to distract us by directing our thoughts to earthly troubles rather than heavenly power. Do not let the things of this world come first: career, marriage, finances. Instead make the Lord your focus and let your job be a way of showing the diligent, faithfulness of Christ. Let your marriage be a way of expressing the love and devotion which Christ showed to His errant sheep. Finally, let the way you handle your finances demonstrate the way that Christ provides for His Church. Do not lose heart, brothers, for though the battle seems long and painful to us now, the grace of the Lord is sufficient to carry us through it all and bring us to a land that is free of pain and sorrow and instead is full of joy in the presence of the Lord. How precious is that thought! May you rest always on His promises and may you hide them in your heart and remember them in you darkest hours. May His name be glorified!

Your brother in Christ,

Corey

“For you have need of endurance"

“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” ~Heb. 10:36

Nick,

In our modern-day world, few have the knowledge of what endurance truly means. The first use of the word was in the late 1400s. (Which brings up an interesting point: We translate the Greek word for patience as endurance in the cases like the one above. Thus we know that endurance is closely linked to patience.) One question we have to ask is what did the author mean? First of all, who was he writing to? Twice he uses patience in the context of lasting or continuing. As the title of the book indicates, it was written to the Hebrews. At the end of the book, however, he is talking to all Christians. Think of what these early Christians were going through. They were being crucified, burned at the stake, starved to death, cut in pieces, and many, many more tortures. Many times they would be given a dungeon cell by themselves, away from the light. Think of all the pain involved and then think about suffering that yourself. Think about pain coursing through every nerve, every tissue, every fiber of your body. About people mocking and slandering you at the door of your cell, while thirst loneliness and hunger almost overcome you. How fitting this passage was and is for believers. It is during these times of persecution that we truly understand the meaning of endure. When we have persevered with complete faith in God and with boundless joy, knowing that our Lord suffered worse for us, but that we have the opportunity to suffer for Him, then we can say, without boasting, that we have endured.

In America, enduring is many times either continuing to workout until you’ve reached your goal weight, or being successful in your attempts to stop smoking, or training up your children with loving discipline. We view, as a nation, jogging a few miles without stopping as a feat of endurance, and in a way it is, but it rarely enters our minds that people have had to sit on iron chairs while a fire raged beneath them. Don’t let that thought revolt you. Rather, you should be longing to show your love of Christ, no matter what the cost, even if it means being tied hand and foot and then being thrown to an angry bull. As Americans, we have an easy lifestyle, untainted by the persecutions that, say, the Chinese are currently facing. Some are threatened at gunpoint to denounce Christ. You can probably guess what they do and what the outcome is. They would rather be shot than degrade God’s holy name. As Americans, we are often forgetful, not remembering the sacrifices that have been made for Christ Jesus our Lord and ignoring the fact that we are to make sacrifices as well. As Americans, we fear pain, even the thought of pain. As Christians, however, we should welcome the opportunity to make a stand for Christ. The only question left is, what path will you follow? The path of the American, easy and carefree? Or the path of the Christian, potentially fraught with danger and suffering? Where do your loyalties lie?

Your brother in Christ,

Corey