The Lord has kept this phrase in my heart and mind lately. It is the answer to our questions about suffering and trials. Why do we have hope? Because Jesus lives. Why can we endure our trials? Because One who endured the very worst lives! He will help us. How can we have peace? Because He lives! He gives peace knowing full well what trials feel like and that we need His peace. And…He is very generous with it! How can we not stress about stuff here on earth? Because He lives! This is our short-term temporary home. We will someday be rewarded with our forever home instead of dying. Why do we get to live forever? Because He lives! We can brag on God’s goodness; He gave us His Son, our hope!
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
It is so easy to get wrapped up in the present world and lose focus of the fact that our life on earth is just a drop in the bucket of how long eternity is. When we look horizontally at the world, we may have fear and worry about all the problems and struggles. We may be discouraged because of the abundance of sin and selfishness in the world. But if we tip our head up, we will see what our future looks like. we will see heaven and Jesus!
By obeying God and allowing Himself to be crucified, Jesus showed us how to obey God in our trials on earth. By living again, He shows us that we can die to self and be made new too! Because He lives, we have a future and a hope. What we are experiencing now is only temporary. Why? Because He lives!
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for keeping the phrase, “Because He lives” in my mind and heart. You make it so simple to follow You. Thank You for obeying Your Father, Our Father, and giving Your life for us. We don’t deserve it, but You did it based on Your love and trust in Your Father. May we always do the same. Because You live, we can too! Any suffering or trials we face here, will be done and gone in heaven. There’s no need for hospitals, medicine or band-aids there! We will look forward to heaven, because You live. We love You so much!!Amen
Glory in the Morning 