Cosmic Loneliness

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly... because the creation itself also wil be delivered from bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."   Romans 8:19-22

The other night I was tossing and turning in bed. I spent the evening scanning the internet for news of the upcoming election and then did some reading which was secular as well. It was a novel that had me thinking how lonely the pursuit of riches really is. As I laid there, I realized things that thrill the world only serve to make me "cosmically lonely." I felt a check in my spirit. I couldn''t go off to sleep that way.

There is a constant battle being waged. Two voices vie for their right to be heard, so to speak, in my little old head. One says, "Come on, can't you just chill and relax and enjoy life. Do you have to be thinking about Him all the time?" The other voice says, "If any man would go after Him, let him say no to himself" (paraphrase of Mark 8:34). I can't forget that verse, even though sometimes I want to.

The days are short. Christ could come back at any time. There is a special reward for those who are "loving His appearing." II Timothy 4:8 But what does it mean to "love His appearing."

The three words are agapao, autos, epiphania that make up the phrase "love His appearing." The meaning of love (agapao) in that verse means: "to welcome with desire, long for." The word autos is translated "his," meaning Christ, in this verse. The word for appearing is "a manifestation,  ie, specially the advent of Christ (past or future), appearing, brightness."

(definitions derived from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2ti/4/8/t_conc_1129008 )

If I get too comfortable with my life the way it is I will not be longing for Him. If I do not take in the Word daily I will not grow in my awesome respect for Him. When He appears, one of two things can happen: I will either love His appearing or I will shrink back in shame. There is no wiggle room there for a happy medium in between.

It is not worth it then to get sidetracked by worries of this life, of trying to make a name for myself, of "grabbing all the gusto" I can get in my short stay on this planet."But if I only think about Him I will have no fun," I can hear some saying, I can hear it in my own mind. That is a lie. For:

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law." Gal. 5: 22-23

Think of it! No law must be legislated against the fruits of the Spirit. The very things we long for, the very things that the human heart desperately desires, are all contained in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are all there as we walk step by step with our Faithful Master every day.

One day He will crack the sky. I will not listen to the naysayer in my own head. He really is coming quickly, and I want to be ready. How about you? It is as simple to decide to come once again to the Great Shepherd of your soul.

"For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." I Peter 2: 25

14 Reasons to Keep My Eyes on Him in 2014

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11: 36

All of creation can be summed up in that statement. Everything is about Jesus.

Last night I started reading a book called How to Enjoy the Bible by E.W. Bullinger. In the first chapter, I read that the whole point of the Bible is to show us Christ. Both the Word and the Creation testify of Him. When I align myself with that fact, my life goes smoothly. Everything God wants to say to us is said within His Book and through the testimony of His creation.

When I look at my life and my circumstances, I can easily get discouraged. But if I can keep the focus of my life on getting to know Christ, I will have no regrets.I do not have to answer to anyone but Him anyways.

Bullinger reminded me of something: The Word of God is unfathomable. It is never a waste of time to study it. It is like a treasure that I need to store up in my soul while I have the time and opportunity. It never grows out of fashion. In a time of trouble, where else are you going to find hope? As Peter said to Jesus:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)

Think of it: what a privilege to have the Bible and so many helps available to us. In the time of King David, all he had was the Torah and yet he still understood that His sins were covered by God's grace.

Why is it fitting that I should look away from myself and to Christ? In this year of 2014, here are 14 reasons from the top of my head:

1)He is altogether lovely.
Song of Solomon 5: 16
"His mouth is most sweet,
Yes, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem!"

2)He has a light yoke.
Matthew 11:30
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

3)He knew me in my mother's womb.
Jeremiah 1: 5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..."

4)He knit me together.
Psalm 139:13
"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb."

5)He knows my anxious thoughts.
Psa 139:23
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties"

6)He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Hebrews 13: 5
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7)Even if I deny Him, He will not deny me.
II Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself."

8)I traded my sins for His righteousness in the Great Exchange of human history.
II Corinthians 5: 21
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

9)He is coming quickly, and He has His reward with Him.
Rev. 22: 20
"He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

10)One day, every knee will bow to Him, so why not bow now?
Phil. 2: 10-11
"...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

11) He holds the universe together.
Col. 1: 17
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

12) His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118:29
"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."

13) He is rich unto all that call upon Him.
Rom 10:12
"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him."

14)No one who comes to Him will ever be cast out.
John 6:37
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

What are your reasons to keep your eyes on Christ in 2014?