GPiper
August 21st 2003, 07:43 AM
God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. Evening came and morning came: the sixth day. [Genesis 1:31] We live in "user friendly" world surrounded by hostilities created by the greatest illusionist of all times. Yesterday the television news carried the story of four young children shot and left in a burning house. Over and over we hear of stories of child abuse, spousal abuse, prejudice, religious persecution, all of which are real. Perhaps you’ve been a victimized by such hostilities and know first hand how real they really are.
As each of us struggle “coming to grips” with the reality of such a hostile world we need to realize that we are all victims of an illusion, duped into thinking we are defeated and degraded. Once we see through the illusion we’ll see ourselves not as victims of hostile acts but as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, citizens of God’s Kingdom.
So long as the great illusionist rules this world it will always be hostile and memories of hostilities will linger but as citizens of God’s Kingdom resources are available to us not only that will defend us against future attacks but render our memories powerless. As citizens of God’s Kingdom we will be transformed from victims to compassionate “we’ve been there” bearers of the Good News that God is a God not only of Love but of Power as well.
Long ago the Apostle Paul summed it up this way… Finally, grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put on the full Armor of God so as to be able to resist the devil's (the great illusionist) tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens. That is why you must take up all God's Armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance on the evil day, or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full.
[Ephesians 6:10 - 6:13]
Remember Jesus is… … …Bigger than life!
Gary
As each of us struggle “coming to grips” with the reality of such a hostile world we need to realize that we are all victims of an illusion, duped into thinking we are defeated and degraded. Once we see through the illusion we’ll see ourselves not as victims of hostile acts but as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, citizens of God’s Kingdom.
So long as the great illusionist rules this world it will always be hostile and memories of hostilities will linger but as citizens of God’s Kingdom resources are available to us not only that will defend us against future attacks but render our memories powerless. As citizens of God’s Kingdom we will be transformed from victims to compassionate “we’ve been there” bearers of the Good News that God is a God not only of Love but of Power as well.
Long ago the Apostle Paul summed it up this way… Finally, grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. Put on the full Armor of God so as to be able to resist the devil's (the great illusionist) tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens. That is why you must take up all God's Armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance on the evil day, or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full.
[Ephesians 6:10 - 6:13]
Remember Jesus is… … …Bigger than life!
Gary