I do believe the bible is true to its core. I believe it’s a double edge sword that cuts to the truth of our heart. So I can only speak from this view point. I don’t know what it is not to believe in the Hope to come, the Hope that Jesus died for. The scriptures say that when Jesus went to the cross, He had joy in His heart because he knew the other side; He knew that death wasn’t the end. I can go on and on about this verse. [Hebrews 12:2 NKJV] looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. I want to talk about faith of Heaven. I try to include a booklet of Heaven in every basket. Randy Alcorn has done an amazing job reaffirming that Heaven is real. So I do recommend you buy his book Heaven. However, I want to talk about the faith of two men, Abraham and David. Abraham. We all know the story about Abraham taking Isaac to the mountain to sacrifice him. We know this was a test and God provided a ram at the last minute. I want to talk about Abraham’s faith. He was asked to leave the place he knew in Genesis chapter 12. He picked up and left. God promised here that his descendants would be many. God continues to remind him in chapter 13 and 15 about his many descendants he will have. Then Abraham took matters into his own hands in chapter 16 and he has Ishmael. (Even though this wasn’t Gods plan, God doesn’t go back on His word and blesses Abraham through Ishmael with many descendants.) Even though Abraham isn’t perfect and he lacked some faith, he still had enough faith to obey God on the mountain. He still believed that God would provide descendants. Year by year Abraham’s faith grew and he held on the promise. He had set it apart in his heart that if Isaac died that day God was going to do something miraculous. Maybe God would raise him back to life? Maybe God would provide him with another son? He probably believed he’s see his son in Heaven too? I think we see this story as an event that never took place. We don’t have enough faith to it. However, friends, it happened. Abraham was real and he did exactly what scripture says happened. I’m sure this grieved his heart but Abraham knew God would take care of him. God NEVER failed in his promises. To Abraham this wasn’t the end. David I can go on and on about this man. He was lust for women caused him some great heart ache. I want to talk about his son. When David heard that his son would not live (2 Samuel 12) he grieved. Like us we grieved hard the second we knew of our babies deaths. I believe David grieved like we did before lost his son. Because he knew his son’s death before he grieved backwards. However after his son passed he got up, cleaned up and praised God. Crazy? I think so. However I think he was up to something here. He like Abraham had an amazing faith. He praised God. He set it in his heart that his son was in Heaven already. He already knew it. In fact when his servant ask him what the heck was going on, David said he’s gone. Why shall I fast now? I can call to my son but he’s not coming back. David might have known the promise of Heaven. David might have known the glorious place that awakes us. He probably knew that his son has set foot and knew the joy of Heaven and no way he’d want to come back to earth. Plus I don’t think David wanted to take that away from his son. I like meditating on these two great men. Their faith astonishes me. I do not have faith like they do. However, my faith and hopefully your faith is being perfected (1 john 4:17). His love is perfecting us. That includes my faith along with my fleshly desires. This also included that grief early on. I followed these men and began to worship God soon after my loss. I didn’t know but as I placed my hands high in worship at church the peace of God came over me. The spirited comforted me. My faith grew. Yes my tears didn’t and haven’t completely gone away, but my faith grew. Friends, I know you hurt. I know you grieve. I know no one knows how much you screamed; cried and yelled that day you lost your baby. Trust me I know. I remember screaming and screaming. My heart aches for you. Don’t stay there. Put worship music on even if you don’t feel like it. Mediate on these men. They were not perfect but God kept His promises. He will make beauty for this mess if you allow him. Jesus came to bring freedom. The enemy wants you to believe this is the end for your baby. It’s not! It’s the beginning for him/her. Raise your hands. Hold on for dear life to His promises. Dive deep into scripture. I have a link on my resource page, Blue Letter Bible and God Questions. Before you dwell or believe the lies the enemy is whispering to you go to these sites and search what the scripture says. This coming year challenge yourself. Ask Him to increase your faith. In Luke 17 the disciples ask for more faith and Jesus explains the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. I believe if you just have faith as small as that God can accomplish great things in you. This coming year set it apart in your heart what God says is true. Little faith can accomplish great things; but great faith can accomplish even greater things. What matters most is what our faith is in, the object of our faith. “The eye cannot see itself. Did you ever see your own eye? In a mirror you may have done so, but that was only a reflection of it. And you may, in like manner, see the evidence of your faith, but you cannot look at the faith itself. Faith looks away to itself to the object of faith, even to Christ.” (Spurgeon) Love you friends
0 Comments
|
Lisa RowellJulianna Grace Ministry was founded by Lisa, who lost her first born, Julianna Grace, a precious little girl that was born still. Join our Julianna Grace Ministry's Facebook group page -
CLICK HERE! Archives
October 2021
Categories |