KeepiNDFaith!

The beacon
The Philippine Star 03/11/2005

He came to them, walking on the sea. – Mark 6:48 When a helicopter crashed in a cold, mountainous wilderness, the pilots survived but were seriously injured. The frozen afternoon stretched toward an even more freezing night. The situation seemed hopeless – until a rescue helicopter appeared, its searchlights illuminating the darkness. It spotted the wreckage, landed nearby, and carried them off to safety. "How did you know where we were?" an injured man asked. "The homing device on your aircraft," the rescuers told him. "It went off automatically when you went down. All we had to do was follow it." The disciples of Jesus also experienced the joy of being rescued. They had been struggling as they rowed their boat against wind and waves in the darkness of night on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 6:45-47). Then Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and calmed the sea (vv. 48-51). We may experience similar times when all is dark and foreboding. We can’t help ourselves, and it seems that no one else can either. No one knows how terrified and exhausted we are. No one, that is, except Jesus. When we’re trapped, hurt, lonely, or discouraged, Jesus knows it. Our cries of grief are beacons that bring Him to our side – right when we need Him most. – David C. Egner There is only One who knows All the answers to my woes; He will all my needs supply When in faith to Him I cry. – Morgan READ: Mark 6:45-52

Has God ever given you a miracle? Or do you wonder why not? Perhaps you’re overlooking the greatest of His miracles -- His love and grace. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When we come to God through the shed blood of Jesus, we’re raised (resurrected) from death to life -- a miracle for us! “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1).
Soon the Lord Jesus is coming in the clouds. And according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “the dead in Christ will rise first.” The dust of dead and buried saints is reconstituted into glorified bodies -- a miracle.
But the spiritual resurrection of our souls from death to life at the moment of conversion is equally miraculous. “But God ... because ... He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ,” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
We were utterly dead within (without God), separated from eternal life, wrapped in guilt and sin, helpless and hell-bound. But Jesus quickened us, crying, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead!” (Ephesians 5:14). He made us alive who were dead in sin -- a true miracle.
We can’t change the past -- hence we have guilt. But when Christ comes into our lives, we have a new beginning: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new," (2 Corinthians 5:17). "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). "I have swept away your sins like the morning mists," (Isaiah 44:22 NLT).
At conversion, your past was revisited, your record wiped clean, your mistakes forgotten, your sin forgiven, your guilt removed and your soul set free -- a miracle.
In coming to Christ, we also find the power to begin living a new kind of life. God works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
A Vietnam Vet living on the streets, on crutches, was panhandling for money. After hearing Philippians 1:6, he gave his life to Christ. “The Lord moved in and ... put all my depression and hatred into a bottle and threw it away.” Frank is now a mission director. Christ has changed millions of lives -- a miracle.
In Christ we’re given a new hope with the promises of God. Christians awake saying, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psalm 118:24). We close our eyes saying, “You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety,” (Psalm 4:8).
Day by day, the Lord meets our needs, answers our prayers and increases our optimism. We have an inner bedrock of hope that enables us to rejoice in the Lord. How do such peace, love and joy come into our hearts? -- a miracle.
If you think you’ve never seen a miracle, think again. You haven’t been passed over. The Christian life is supernatural, and all God’s children have experienced miracles. All His children are miracles. You are a miracle, too!

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the picture. There he was, my 13-year-old son Adam in his bathing suit—laying in the snow—making a snow angel!
… consider things from His eternal perspective.

I still get the shivers just looking at it. Why would he do that to himself? Was this some kind of cruel initiation to a Canadian junior Polar Bear Club? Or was he simply a few fries short of a "Happy Meal"? One more question: how could he possibly be smiling? Well, here's the rest of the story.

Adam was at a friend's house, and in the backyard they had one of those year-round hot tubs. So he borrowed a bathing suit, and in they went. Periodically they would take a courageous jump out of the tub, make a quick snow angel, and dart back into the tub—all in the span of about three seconds. Yes, there was pain, but Adam was able to smile because he knew it was only for a brief moment.

The Lord has never promised us that there would be no pain or struggles in this life, But He does promise to be with us in our tough times and give us a deep-rooted joy—a reason to smile—as we consider things from His eternal perspective. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17,18).

Let's face it, Jesus Himself endured the most excruciating pain imaginable as He willingly suffered for us on that cruel cross. Yet inside He was smiling—He knew what was coming! Hebrews 12:2 says of Jesus, " … who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus—our ultimate example of eternity-focussed courage.

In the midst of your tough times, let your family and friends see a "snap-shot" of you smiling. Guaranteed, they will start asking questions, wondering about your sanity. And that's when you can introduce them to your example—and tell them the rest of the story!

Ron Mainse is president of Crossroads Christian Communications Inc., and host of the 100 Huntley Street television program which is aired daily across Canada. Web site: www.crossroads.ca.
Originally published in Compass, April 2003.www.crossroads.ca
Used with permission. Copyright © 2004 Christianity.ca.

Today's text states that God causes the cypress tree and the myrtle tree to flourish where once thorns and briers encumbered the ground. This analogy reminds us that God can bring forth beauty and grace where evil once flourished.
Where cynicism once grew, hope and optimism can begin to emerge. Where sarcasm thrived, gentle words of healing can appear. Where lust grew rampant and unrestrained, pure love can spring up. This—a transformed life—is the living and lasting sign of God's work, the memorial He seeks (Isaiah 55:13).
Do you long for this kind of transformation in your life? Then "seek the Lord while He may be found" (v.6). There are moments when we grow tired of the evil within us, and our heart aches for holiness. This is God calling, reminding us that He is near. At such times we must sink our roots deep into God's Word and ask Him to conform us to His likeness. He says that "as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and . . . water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, . . . so shall [His] word be that goes forth from [His] mouth" (vv.10-11).
Seek the Lord while He may be found. Plantings of grace can replace the thorns of our sinful nature. —David Roper