It is written that I was\nmade to overcome (Romans 8:31-39). But I do not see it. What use is hope, when\nthe battle has gone on too long and there seems to be nothing left? What use is\nhaving hope when all evidence points to the contrary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul wrote: \u201cNow faith is the substance of things hoped\nfor, the evidence of things not seen.\u201d (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isn\u2019t\nit curious that he uses the word \u201cevidence of things not seen\u201d? People say\nseeing is believing, right? But what if it\u2019s not so? Remember, God Himself is\nSpirit (John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17). And you have not seen Him, but you know\nHim. And you love Him (John 14:17; 1 Peter 1:8-9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest battle that\nChrist faced was not with the powerful and wealthy religious leaders of His time\n(Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 11:37-54; Luke 20:45-47), the unbelieving\ncrowds (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19), His own disciples (Matthew 18:1-4; Matthew 26:69-75;\nMark 9:33-37; Luke 22) or the Roman government (Matthew 2; John 19; Luke 23;\nMark 15). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was with His own physical\nbody. He knew the purpose for which He came, to give His life to redeem us from\nour sins (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17). He declared to His\ndisciples when He found them sleeping when they should pray to be able to\nresist temptation: \u201cThe spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak\u201d (Matthew\n26:41b NIV). Christ Himself is without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:3-4;\nHebrews 4:14-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet Jesus consistently set\nthe example for us to follow. And in that moment, when facing the weight of the\ncross, He did not turn away. He prayed (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). Personally\nI don\u2019t think Jesus was asking God to remove the possibility of crucifixion. He\nalways predicted His own death and was quite clear in telling the purpose of\nHis death and how it will glorify God (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Mark 8:31;\nLuke 13:33). Rather, I think it was more related to the fact that He was under\nso much anguish that He suffered while praying, which can possibly affect his\nphysical body to the point of death before He reaches the cross. He sweated\ndrops of blood (Luke 22:44). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are times in our lives\nwhen we feel like even the things we struggle within our own minds are too\ndifficult to bear. Christ said that in this world, we will<\/em> have trouble \u2013 but also tells us to have courage, because He\novercame the world (John 16:33)! <\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way, Jesus never\npromised that we would have a smooth sailing. So if anyone tells you any\ndifferent, spouting the nonsense that your life will be full of prosperity and\nease, that\u2019s not the truth of Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we are at the end of\nthe line and there\u2019s no rope to hold on, that is when we need shift our focus\noff way we feel, off our own minds \u2013 and towards the Word of the Lord. No\ndiscipline is easy. Think back to the time you first began learning. Be it\npottery, martial arts, math, writing. How did you grow? Did it take\npersistence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same principal, it is\nwritten: \u201cWe destroy arguments and every lofty opinion\nraised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.\u201d \u2013 2 Corinthians\n10:5 (ESV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s\ngive the end of the line to God. Maybe it\u2019s time that we do His way. Are you\nready?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is written that I was made to overcome (Romans 8:31-39). But I do not see it. What use is hope, when the battle has gone on too long and there seems to be nothing left? What use is having hope when all evidence points to the contrary? Paul wrote: \u201cNow faith is the substance … Continue reading The End of the Line<\/span>