Opus 2013-48: Key Scriptures: II Corinthians 4:7-10

The Bible is full of promises.  Some people only see the good ones but there is a balance that shows God is aware of what life is like.  I find great comfort in the balance of this passage, which came to my mind as I was reading in Proverbs, of all places.

(2 Corinthians 4:7-10 KJV)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

I have experienced the disruptions listed here:  troubled, perplexed, persecuted, cast down.  I have also lived through the miracles of the promises that not only level the scale, but bring my arm high into a world of joy and blessing.

For instance, I can be perplexed.  I don’t have all the answers.  I don’t know all the formulas.  But I can remember when I was learning the basics of Algebra.  Just because I didn’t get it the first time I did not call the teacher a deluded fool living in happy land.  I never took Calculus.  That doesn’t mean that I can’t accept that it exists and has a use.  My God is bigger than I am.  I expect to continue reasoning, learning and asking but if I could really understand all, He would not be much of a God, would He?

I can’t even understand my wife and I can prove to even you she exists.

So love the promises and keep on truckin’.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-306, Tortoises, not Ostriches

As a believing and serious Christian I find the last election has the potential for causing depression.  On the moral issues evil took a big step forward.  I say moral issues instead of social issues because abortion and homosexuality are moral issues not social issues.  The killers of babies won.  The perverts won. 

On the social issues I lost also.  The Second Amendment has enemies in high places.  They are stronger than they were before the election.  This is a social issue.  It is a topic that people can disagree on.  It is a constitutional issue.  People who believe in the rule of law cannot disagree if the law they are sworn to uphold is the U.S. Constitution, but I accept that some people don’t believe that the Constitution is the best system available. 

On other issues from education to the economy I lost.  I felt it but I am recovering.  I have a reminder that is more powerful than hope and change.  I have a truly renewable source of energy.

(2 Corinthians 4:7-9 KJV)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

What is the source of that renewal?  It is not my intelligence or strength.  It is bigger than that.  It is eternal.  Notice the next verse.

(2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV)  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Christians lost but we are still optimistic and involved.  You see, we are always using situations like this to remind ourselves that politics is something we are involved in because of duty not because it is vital.  We rejoice in adversity because we have read the book and understand the principles of life.  In the race of life we are tortoises, not ostriches.  We live in perseverance, not denial.

That is a big difference and one that the pagans and “Kristians” don’t understand.  We are not happy fools, we are informed servants. 

homo unius libri