MARCHING ON TO  BEAUTIFUL ZION!

2nd JULY 2022

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place”. – 2 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus confirms to us that all humans will have problems in life.  He never deceived us on the matter. But Jesus says to us that we shall overcome because He has already conquered the world for our sake.  That is one of the greatest mysteries of our Christian journey; The blessed assurance that it is well with us because of the victory of the cross!

Our life is lived in layers, one layer of our existence is different from the other. In a layer, life is smooth and good. In another layer, life becomes turbulent and painful. Humanity is expected to move through these layers of life towards perfection; To become like God!  For us as Christians, Jesus remains a perfect example of the holiness and perfection that God wants. Therefore, become like Christ! Therefore, holding to Jesus in times of trouble gives us the power to overcome.  Therefore, I say to us today, notwithstanding our earthly challenges, a Christian should advance non-stop to become Christlike as he moves towards the heavenly Jerusalem.

That same attitude should apply to all our worldly endeavours. For example, see how Moses led the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land; I cannot help but salute his courage and determination to succeed despite prevailing obstacles. 

Apostle Paul also fought several spiritual and physical battles to give us the Christian community that we enjoy today. In the end, Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Therefore, focus on the Christian faith.  Also, when Jesus Christ finished his mission, he said, “It is finished“. He completed the race. Like Jesus and Paul, are we able to confront every obstacle gallantly and say at the end, ‘it is finished’?

Most of the things we fear in life rarely happen, and even if they do, they usually come and go leaving us to continue with the race of life.  What we need is the grace to withstand each problem as they erupt in our lives.  Beloved, you will always come out stronger no matter what happens, and that is because we have His grace which is sufficient for us.

Many of us today are experiencing a constant fight or challenges relating to health and survival, wrestling with business failures, battling with relationships and betrayal, and we sometimes feel that the troubles and challenges are too much to bear. That is so because our journey in life must cut through the wilderness, for the promised land lies ahead of the wilderness in the same direction. That means you must go through the wilderness before getting to the promised land. 

Therefore, beloved, After the wilderness experience comes the fulfilment of God’s promise; There is survival for you in the wilderness. God’s people died in the wilderness because they did not obey Yahweh, argued too much with Moses, and did not have faith in God. To overcome the wilderness experience, Jesus tells us that we would meet with tribulations and persecution in life, but we shall overcome because He had already conquered the world! (John 16:33). That means, when trouble comes our way, we must hold onto Jesus, the bread of life that comes from heaven, and He will feed us till we hunger no more, no matter the problems!

Beloved, I know some are battling with some irreversible problems of life such as terminal ailments, the tragic loss of breadwinners or relations, loss of earnings, battling with a jail term, afflicted by poverty, locked up in captivity and at the mercy of terrorists or ritualists, etc.  My message to you today is, “with God, every problem has a solution, and when He solves our problems, He leaves no scar behind”.

It is true that some experiences are difficult to bear.  But God gives the grace to come out of pain and trauma. Therefore, lean on God when you are troubled, He will grant you rest. It is only God that bears our pain. At the foot of the cross lies the triumph we need to rise above our trouble, and God grants us relief in a mysterious manner. Therefore, leave all your troubles at the foot of the cross, and God shall grant you rest in His own way, terms and conditions.  

Today I pray thee to hold onto the Divine Spirit of God. Hold onto Jesus no matter the problems; He will set you free! Do not be deterred by the devil’s tricks that say you cannot make it for one reason or the other. Remember, NO turning back!

 PRAYER

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, today I declare your plan and purpose for me are established, and your word concerning me is written and established. Therefore, I decree everything concerning me is perfect according to thy word. AMEN

FURTHER READING: Ephesians 6:10-20