"These Things Remain"

Pain, frustration, disappointment, futility, unresolved anger, hopeless etc, are words that define life for many whose lives seem to be a proverbial "black hole" where they are caught in a vacuum of chaos. But, there is nothing new here, at least not in the way of cause and effect. The cause is still the same as it has been from the beginning and the effect remains exactly the same as for Adam and Eve and their struggling family after God set them on their own course in the world.

Jesus came to make a difference - a BIG difference! Although he walked among us for a relatively short time, what he left behind makes all the difference in our daily life if we so choose. He warned us that he came not "to bring peace, but a sword". He told us some of our most cunning challenges would come from within our own families and we would have to make a difficult choice between "father, mother, sister, brother" etc., and serving our Father. BUT, anyone can make a better choice and live in the chaos with absolute peace. Many, many have done so and continue to do so.

Paul, whose life was daily chaos too, wrote these comforting words:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

The Corinthian disciples seemingly spent so much time posturing and measuring each others "gifts", they overlooked the greatest gifts. Prophecy, speaking in tongues and even healings were not what life in Jesus was about. Paul told them plainly that all of those were temporary "gifts", NONE of which was the "GREATEST GIFT". So, their many debates and discussions were childish when viewed in a larger perspective. Then he made the statement quoted above.

In essence, what remains makes it all good - regardless. I realize how difficult that conclusion can sometimes seem when you're swirling around in that "black hole" of despair. We've all been there, are there or are just a breath away from there. But it all goes back to Adam and Eve in the Garden. The prince of darkness always knows just the right time and place to manipulate our thinking to put us into his swirling vacuum. He tried it with Jesus but Jesus wouldn't bite. I shouldn't either.

FAITH, HOPE and LOVE, are what remain as our primary arsenal of weapons to fight what Paul called "the good fight" all the way to the end. With those weapons I can win the war. I wont win every battle because Satan is capable of outsmarting and outwitting me sometimes. But if I can just see his fingerprints on whatever situation I am confronted with, I can do just like Jesus and say "NO!". I can make a better choice, one that shores up the internal resolve to resist Satan.

The things that remain, things given to us by Jesus through his Holy Spirit, are more powerful than ANYTHING Satan can dream up. His "black hole" can seem very scary sometimes but we have weapons to fight with that Satan has absolutely no way to defeat because he simply doesn't understand them.

So, hang in there struggler. Fight the good fight with faith, hope and love. God will not allow you to lose, you're his child and he will fight with you. HALLELUJAH!