Transformed mind

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness

Ephesians 4:23

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

Romans 12:2

How many truly happy people do you know? If you know even one such person, I would say that is uncommon. I have never met even one person who would not wish that something was different in their lives. Even someone who has learned to overcome sorrow still will have something in their lives that is unpleasant. Suffering is universal. Life will NOT be what we think it should be. Sorrow and heartache are the result of living in a world that is under the deceptive power of the evil one. But yes, friends there ARE truly happy people in this world, who have learned the secret of happiness. They rejoice when going through a trial. They are glad when things don't work out. They are misunderstood at best. Persecuted at worst. Because they point out to the world that this life is not all there is, the world hates them. But even though life comes crashing down around them, they rejoice. 

Our natural life, apart from Christ, is centered in our own selves. What works for us? Where can we go to find fulfillment? And the answers are always external. Social status. Comfortable life. Family. What to wear, what to eat? But Jesus says there is more to life than that. To those who believe in Him, a great fountain of contentment is the promise. But there is a difference. Where the world looks outside for verification, Jesus invites us to an inner fulfillment based not on anything outside ourselves, but on this objective fact: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. All of our life flows out of this, so we can confidently say, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness". 

I mentioned that there is no person on earth who does not wish for something different. This is everyone, saints included. The cross is ever before us, and we are in the process of putting the world behind us. I do not desire the cross that is before me. I am perplexed. Where is God, anyway? Even now, honestly, He seems a zillion miles away. Somewhere out there. Uncaring about the strongholds I am facing, apparently alone. I will not give up, though. The most objective fact in all the universe is His love for me. Here I will stand. Here I will die. Only the assurance of His presence will I carry to the grave. 

My pastor is fond of saying that for the saints, our current cross is as bad as it will ever be. For those in the world, their life is as good as it will ever be. Everyone suffers. Only saints persevere, for our eyes are not on earth, but on our Eternal Destination, that Heavenly City of God, where our true possessions lay. Suffering is the universal experience of every person on earth, but for the saints there is a redeeming purpose. 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

This is the reason we don't give up. This is the meaning of our lives. All of the world is being crucified unto us, and we unto it. We are meant to live for eternity, and eternity calls us beyond whatever trial might come our way. When pressed in every direction, "Let this blessed assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and HAS SHED HIS OWN BLOOD FOR MY SOUL". Amen and praise His Name. 

O Lord Jesus, we pause at this time, in the midst of the storm, to look upon Thee. We are not considering the trial that surrounds us, but are looking to Thee, the "author and perfecter of our faith". We love you, Lord. We know that you have loved us. This is enough, both for now and forever. Amen.