Got life?

 “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬


    I can remember the moment nearly 15 years ago when I realized eternal life doesn’t begin when I die. I had lived my life believing that if I say “yes” to Jesus I am then supposed to do my best to be a good person, try not to sin (or at least not do anything too bad) and when I die I would go to heaven and be with God forever. Thankfully God provided someone who came alongside me when I was a young mom. She took time with me each week while my daughter napped and read the word with me, showed me the importance of memorizing and understanding what the Bible says, and showed me how I can read the Bible for myself and apply it to my everyday life.  


    2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

‭

This verse states explicitly that life “has begun” not "will begin when you die and go to heaven”. Suddenly this shift in perspective lifted a giant weight off of me.  I was no longer a young woman working hard to not disappoint God. I was a new person, with the Spirit of the living God in me.  I could live brand new, with all my old ways, past sins, hurts, and offenses left behind.  I could walk through this life without worry or concern that I could mess it all up somehow.  I didn’t need to hold on and survive this life and all it throws at me.  I had a new life, not later but right now, and His power and presence with me every step of the way.  A life with God has shown me what really living is!

    

    Knowing and living out this newness of life becomes all the more essential on days like today where my mood has felt gray and foggy like the weather outside. You see becoming brand new does not mean life becomes simple and without struggle, but it does mean I live knowing confidently that I am never on my own and never unloved.  There is a worship song called Graves into Gardens by Elevation Worship that states:

I'm not afraid to show you my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord, you've seen them all
And you still call me friend
'Cause the God of the mountain 
Is the God of the valley
There's not a place Your mercy and grace
Won't find me again.


    Life isn't just mountain top moments. But the God of the moutain is the God of the valley. He meets us where we are, in our highs and in our lows. When we are at our best and at our worst. Whether we have a lot to offer or just our tears. In Luke 21, Jesus sees the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection boxes followed by a widow with just two small coins. He then points out that she has given more than the rest because they gave out of their overflow, but she gave everything she had.


    On days where my feelings betray me I can come to God, not with it all together, but with the very little I have and say,

    "I can't do this alone, and you promise I am never on my own, so here I am seeking your face. Renew my mind Lord, reminding me that I am a new creation."


And because He conquered death this new life I live is now and forever.  




I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20







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