Take Heart

Has it really been over two months since I posted anything? I am so sorry (if anyone is out there)! No excuses...let's just get on with it! We have just come through a wonderful time of enjoying family and friends celebrating the marriage of our firstborn to Heather Rae Thomas, now Webb! Everything was beautiful, especially (from a mom's eyes) having all the family together again (pictures are coming). There's just something about being together with those you love! It's like heaven, that sense of home...and belonging. In the past couple of months I have seen God do so many amazing things and answer so many prayers. He is so good and I'm reminded every day how much His love far exceeds what I deserve. But you know, even in all the goodness of the Lord around me...there is also trouble. "In this world," Jesus said, "you will have trouble." (John 16:33) Why? Because the enemy lurks (Psalm 10)! He plays dirty and he plays to win. He deceives and seeks to destroy everything Good...because he is the opposite of good, he is evil. But you know what? He doesn't have to win (& he certainly won't in the end)! And he won't in my life! I will take heart because Jesus has overcome the darkness! And because He overcame, I too can overcome (and so can you). Not by my own might or power but by His Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts! I recently read a great book on overcoming the enemy. And the Lord has really been speaking to my heart from Revelation 3:18-20. Jesus is speaking and says, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see." I love that Jesus says, "I counsel you." He is the Wonderful Counselor of Isaiah 9! Where do you go for counsel? Proverbs says there is safety in a multitude of counselors but there is no other than Jesus Himself! So, what does He say we should do when love seems to fail? These verses in context were spoken to the church who had left their first love. Our first love is Jesus. So, they were looking for love in other places. I do believe there is love in other places, earthly love that God uses to teach us about His love but all other love will fail at some point. It's only a picture but it's flawed because it's human. Jesus' love never fails (I Cor. 13). But sometimes we look to other people and things for love as the church did in Revelation, chapter 3, and we find ourselves lacking. Back to the scripture, Jesus says, buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich. Rich in what? Rich in love. Treasure is defined in many different ways. But, the only true, lasting treasure, the only wealth that truly satisfies is love. And when love fails we feel bankrupt, lost, finished. Jesus counsels us when this happens (and it will) to buy gold (treasures) from Him. A ring made of gold has metal and other alloys in it to harden it so it will keep its shape. It may be costly but it's not totally pure. Jesus is comparing our hearts, the seat or center of our emotions, to gold. Once gold is purified in the fire the impurities and metals rise to the top and are skimmed off through the heating process. This is a picture of our lives. When the heat of adversity is on, the impurities of our hearts rise to the surface and are seen in the things we say and do that do not exemplify pure love. It happens in our own lives and we see it in the lives of people we love. And it's painful. But, it's part of the process of refining. We show genuine love when we're willing to become rich by continuing to love and seeking forgiveness by humbling (softening) ourselves. But, it costs something (buy from Me). It costs swallowing our pride. It costs admitting our faults and confessing our sins. The price is high, but the result is true wealth...treasure in heaven and peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)! Then Jesus says to buy white clothes to cover our shame. It is a shame when the church (you and me) acts sinfully. We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ to cover us (2 Cor. 5:21). But it costs us something to buy it. It costs taking off the old man clothed in garments of hatred, bitterness and anger and putting on the new garments of love, joy and peace. Finally, Jesus said buy salve for your eyes so you can see. In the midst of conflict we are all blinded. We can't see the whole situation as it truly is because we only see through our own eyes. We need heavenly vision. The salve, I believe, is the anointing of the Spirit of God that is ours for the asking (I John 2). It brings the truth of God into the light and shows us the way. Reading on in verse 19 and 20 of Revelation 3, Jesus says, "those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." I want that kind of fellowship with Him, don't you? It comes when we earnestly repent (turn around from wrong living). He stands and waits at our hearts door. Will you hear? Will you open the door? He's waiting with open arms. That's genuine LOVE! Rich LOVE!