Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today- Jesus’ truth always stands but often I walk away in disbelief, even though I know his truth.
Luke 24:4-11 MSG
[4-8] They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words. [9-11] They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.
Observation
Why is it in the heat of life that I am so often unable to remember what Jesus has said? How is it that we can hear Jesus speak clearly about how things work but don’t believe a word of it in the reality of life? Jesus told them he would be raised in three days, but they could not hold the mystery and magnificence of this truth and the tension of life that says ‘dead stay dead.’ So when the evidence of the truth is right there in front of them they dismiss it as lies.
Jesus tells us plainly, clearly, without any measure of uncertainty, that we are forever covered in forgiveness and forever right with him based on what he has done and nothing we can do can change, alter or dismiss this from standing. Yet, as soon as life writes a story of failure and sin we walk away disappointed that we are no longer okay with God. He says clearly I will always be with you, I love you, I am for you, but then life dishes up crap and we can not walk in the mystery and magnificence of His presence. So often we live at the mercy of the tides of life because we won’t exercise the faith required to hold the mystery of Jesus as truth in the face of the evidence of life and the way the systems of the world tell us life works.
I wonder how often I miss the risen Jesus, the resurrection life of the Kingdom of God, from operating, deepening, and fulfilling my life, because I refuse to believe what God has plainly said? It was not that the disciples did not want Jesus to be alive, they were desperate for him to be alive. But they could not hold a risen Jesus as truth, even though Jesus had explained this truth, so they walk away in disbelief and continue in their grief and pain. How much unnecessary heartache, pain, and confusion do I walk in because I do the same? I want everything that God says to be true, His promises and truth over my life are amazing, but I so often live at the mercy of my feelings, my culture, my surrounding, my brokenness and miss the resurrection life I desperately want and have been fully promised. Faith is not easy, but always possible. The truth is always there, God never withdraws any of His truth from me, and always accessible to me, because faith is always possible.
Application
I don’t want to hear the truth and then live like it’s a lie for me. I don’t want resurrection life to be right there in front of me and walk away because the mystery and magnificence are too much for me to handle. I will choose to faith the truth and promises of God into the reality of my life, regardless of what my feelings and circumstances may scream as evidence to disbelieve.
Response
Thank you that you can be trusted. Thank you that you are faithful. Thank you that promises are always “yes” to me and stand forever waiting for me. Thank you that I cannot behave my way out of your blessings and promises, they are not earned by my goodness or denied due to my badness. They stand in your goodness and love over me forever. Thank you for faith, for the gift of faith to me. Thank you that I have all I need for resurrection life in you. How blessed is this man, even though he walks away too often in disbelief.
Meditation
Meditation truth – remember what Jesus has promised.
Consider:
In what areas of your life have you heard the truth and promises of God over your life, but walked away in disbelief?
JOURNEY DEEPER
