the Divine Tension
I recently discovered a truth that finally allowed me to make more sense of the world that surrounds me.
There are 2 things that Jesus said before He left that finally made sense to me.
There is a divine tension within all of us.
On one hand, we want a comfortable life, yet on the other, this utopian ideal of a comfortable life seems to elude us and slips from our hands like water running through our fingers. Our world demands more and more of us each day. Our family needs us, our friends need us, our work needs our attention, our spouse needs us, and now, as a Christian, our ministry needs us. It seems like there is no escape from this and that life is designed for years and years of perseverance and endurance to give and to give and to give, until we're finally wrung dry and get laid in our 6ft by 4ft box before being buried 6ft under. Ashes to ashes dust to dust. Some of us more space conscious though environmentally less friendly ones choose cremation... :)
Yet, the tension never ceases to gnaw at us. We all pursue a certain stability in our lives that garners us the comfort that we so desire.
Many seek it in a relationship, thinking that having someone in our lives would bring in the happiness that we've been grappling at, but alas, it only brought double the trouble; hers and yours.
Some look for it in money, thinking that the more money that you have, the more comfort that you can buy. But alas, when they have attained that amount of wealth, they often find that they have lost the ability to enjoy it, and realised that the only comfort that they had, was to make more money!
Others seek comfort in the company of friends, thinking that having more friends would keep them sane from all the storms of life. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed right? But still, disappointments are abound when friends can't stay by your side forever and certain storms are left better alone for oneself to fend.
So they grow bitter, and they get disillusioned and wonder when they will ever find that rest that they have been looking for.
But the truth is this. You will never find rest in this world.
This is what Jesus said.
John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble...
Why?
Cos to really have the rest that we are all looking for there are 2 things we need to realise:
1) We live in a fallen world and because we live in a fallen world, there will always be trouble!
2) We need to recognise that the desires within our hearts points us to our original design, that we were made for a perfect world.
To test my hypothesis, here are 2 things to consider:
Firstly, How do we know we live in a fallen world? Just look at the news each day and you will know that there is trouble everywhere. Heck, just look around your school, your office, your family, and you will know it IS a fallen world.
Secondly, how do I know that I was made for a perfect world? The fact that you have yearnings in your heart for a place of perfect rest, and comfort, proves that you were made for something beyond this imperfect world.
so, the question is, if we were made for a perfect world, then doesn't it mean that we're living in a wrong place?
This, my friend is the DIVINE TENSION.
This is why Jesus said,
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid
There 2 kinds of peace; one which the world gives, and the other, which only Jesus can give.
the peace that the world gives, comes from our significance and attachment to things of this world that we think will give us comfort and that perfect rest in our hearts. This could be a comfortable life, comfortable finances, comfortable relationship. But all these are deceptions, for they only provide momentary relief, but they do not provide deep assured peace.
Jesus said, In this world, there will be trouble. What He's really saying is, if you're looking for a comfortable life, FORGET IT. It is impossible. There is NO SUCH THING as a comfortable life in this world. If you keep pursuing it, it will elude you!
Hey, isn't this very pessimistic?
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
What He's really saying is, when you stop placing your significance in things of this world to give you that rest, and look to Him, and start living the way we were designed to live, we will find rest in Him.
He has overcome the world, by living out the design that He was made to live by His Father. When He lived out that life in the eyes of the world, it was the worst kind of life ever. But in His heart of hearts, He had greater peace than any of us put together.
And He is calling us to live out the Father's design for our lives, so that we too can have peace everlasting.
which means this: if you are looking for a place where you can relac one corner, it is to do the will of the Lord no matter how difficult it is. The moment you start looking elsewhere to fulfill the need to rest, you will lose that peace.
So, accept your circumstance, that it is God-given, and pray and obey Him on where He wants you to go, and get on with it!
Then His peace, that transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. And in the midst of all the storms that brew, despite its difficulties, you can still smile and thank God for it, because you have obeyed Him and life isn't a drag anymore.
Amen!
Have you lived out God's design for your life this day yet?
There are 2 things that Jesus said before He left that finally made sense to me.
There is a divine tension within all of us.
On one hand, we want a comfortable life, yet on the other, this utopian ideal of a comfortable life seems to elude us and slips from our hands like water running through our fingers. Our world demands more and more of us each day. Our family needs us, our friends need us, our work needs our attention, our spouse needs us, and now, as a Christian, our ministry needs us. It seems like there is no escape from this and that life is designed for years and years of perseverance and endurance to give and to give and to give, until we're finally wrung dry and get laid in our 6ft by 4ft box before being buried 6ft under. Ashes to ashes dust to dust. Some of us more space conscious though environmentally less friendly ones choose cremation... :)
Yet, the tension never ceases to gnaw at us. We all pursue a certain stability in our lives that garners us the comfort that we so desire.
Many seek it in a relationship, thinking that having someone in our lives would bring in the happiness that we've been grappling at, but alas, it only brought double the trouble; hers and yours.
Some look for it in money, thinking that the more money that you have, the more comfort that you can buy. But alas, when they have attained that amount of wealth, they often find that they have lost the ability to enjoy it, and realised that the only comfort that they had, was to make more money!
Others seek comfort in the company of friends, thinking that having more friends would keep them sane from all the storms of life. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed right? But still, disappointments are abound when friends can't stay by your side forever and certain storms are left better alone for oneself to fend.
So they grow bitter, and they get disillusioned and wonder when they will ever find that rest that they have been looking for.
But the truth is this. You will never find rest in this world.
This is what Jesus said.
John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble...
Why?
Cos to really have the rest that we are all looking for there are 2 things we need to realise:
1) We live in a fallen world and because we live in a fallen world, there will always be trouble!
2) We need to recognise that the desires within our hearts points us to our original design, that we were made for a perfect world.
To test my hypothesis, here are 2 things to consider:
Firstly, How do we know we live in a fallen world? Just look at the news each day and you will know that there is trouble everywhere. Heck, just look around your school, your office, your family, and you will know it IS a fallen world.
Secondly, how do I know that I was made for a perfect world? The fact that you have yearnings in your heart for a place of perfect rest, and comfort, proves that you were made for something beyond this imperfect world.
so, the question is, if we were made for a perfect world, then doesn't it mean that we're living in a wrong place?
This, my friend is the DIVINE TENSION.
This is why Jesus said,
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid
There 2 kinds of peace; one which the world gives, and the other, which only Jesus can give.
the peace that the world gives, comes from our significance and attachment to things of this world that we think will give us comfort and that perfect rest in our hearts. This could be a comfortable life, comfortable finances, comfortable relationship. But all these are deceptions, for they only provide momentary relief, but they do not provide deep assured peace.
Jesus said, In this world, there will be trouble. What He's really saying is, if you're looking for a comfortable life, FORGET IT. It is impossible. There is NO SUCH THING as a comfortable life in this world. If you keep pursuing it, it will elude you!
Hey, isn't this very pessimistic?
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
What He's really saying is, when you stop placing your significance in things of this world to give you that rest, and look to Him, and start living the way we were designed to live, we will find rest in Him.
He has overcome the world, by living out the design that He was made to live by His Father. When He lived out that life in the eyes of the world, it was the worst kind of life ever. But in His heart of hearts, He had greater peace than any of us put together.
And He is calling us to live out the Father's design for our lives, so that we too can have peace everlasting.
which means this: if you are looking for a place where you can relac one corner, it is to do the will of the Lord no matter how difficult it is. The moment you start looking elsewhere to fulfill the need to rest, you will lose that peace.
So, accept your circumstance, that it is God-given, and pray and obey Him on where He wants you to go, and get on with it!
Then His peace, that transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. And in the midst of all the storms that brew, despite its difficulties, you can still smile and thank God for it, because you have obeyed Him and life isn't a drag anymore.
Amen!
Have you lived out God's design for your life this day yet?
posted by Aaron @ 1:13:00 AM
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