This Is Not The End

Many times we are in situations and we think that they are the end. There's no hope in sight. There's no victory to be won. However, there is! This is not the end of us. We will not end in defeat or shame but we will end in victory.

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

We press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, focusing on what is ahead. Truthfully, this is not easy when we look at our current situation. Sometimes, we only focus on the work in progress and can't see the beauty at the end. It is like looking at the construction of a building. You wonder how will it look. How will the end product look? Usually it is hard to imagine the end product but when you see it, you are amazed.

A caterpillar goes through many stages before it becomes a butterfly. I'm sure they probably wonder if this is the end. If their life will end in this cocoon. Will they ever see the light again? However, their fears end, when they emerge as a beautiful butterfly. This is the same with us.

We will go through turmoil. We will go through trials and tribulations but at the end, we will come out on top. We will shine like the stars bright, brighter. God is taking us from glory to glory. He is moulding and shaping us into a Bride who would be ready for the marriage supper. This is not the end of us. This is just the beginning.

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)

Through tribulations, we develop perseverance, character and hope. We are continually transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Rejoice because there is a bigger picture. There is something bigger than your current trial. This is not the end!

This is not the end! This is not the end of us! We will shine like the stars bright, brighter!

The Bond

The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. Who would’ve thought I would give my life to my master but I thought it was worth it. And behold it is.

The master of everything, the creator of everything. Behold You look for one who would be loyal to your own, whose heart would be yours, whose life they would surrender.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Everything I am, I give to the master. It is no longer I who live but He who lives in me. My life is no longer my own. For I have been bought with a price. I have been bought with the price of His blood, ever shed on the cross for me. The blood that cleanses, the blood that washes white as snow.

The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. What can separate me from the love of my beloved? For His desire is toward me. For behold I am no longer a slave to sin, a slave to fear but a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:15-23). That eternal bond between my master and I has overcome me that I no longer think of myself as my own. But I think of myself as the righteousness of God, as a child of God, as the Bride of Christ.

What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. For I want to be a bride ready for the marriage supper when the roll is called up yonder. When the New Jerusalem comes, to be caught up with the master. Where there will be no more tears, no more pain and no more disaster.

The bond between the two of us. The bond between the bride and the bridegroom. A bond that was meant from the beginning of eternity. From the beginning of time, this bond between the two of us was predestine and ordained from above. A bond that was meant for you and I. A bond that was meant for us.

Where Is My Well?

Life has become a journey of ups and downs. A journey of good and bad, easy and difficult that we probably will never get used to. We become familiar with everything going well, that when the bad time comes, our faith is shaken. We forget how God brought us out of our previous difficult time into our good. This is expected.

Many times, I ask myself, "Is everything really working for my good?" "Is God really working it out in the background?" Where is the well in my ...

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Being Grateful In The Midst

When I reflect upon life, I realize there are many times where the storm is rough and where there seems to be no hope in sight. Life seems to throw lemons in our faces. Nothing is going the way we want. We don't have a job. We're stressed out and overwhelmed. We feel like we are perishing because there is no vision. In these moments, we ask ourselves when will the promise come. When will the prophesies come to pass?

In the midst of this, being grateful is the key to surviving and overcoming. Being thankful in the midst of our storm brings a reassurance and peace to our hearts that everything is going to be ok. Everything is actually working out for our good even though we can't see it. The truth is, we don't need to see it. For what is faith then, if we walk by sight? 

Gratefulness strengthens our faith. When we thank God for all the things He has done for us, our faith grows stronger. When we thank God for bringing us through each storm, all doubts and fears begin to fade away. Life is a faith journey. It's a journey where we must have the right attitude and posture in order for us to see the promise. 

The people of Israel waited for the promise land for a number of years. During that time, they walked in the wilderness for forty years with an attitude of complaining and grumbling. They were discontented with their present situation. They didn't even thank God for bringing them out of  Egypt where they were in slavery and bondage. It's quite surprising that they would complain, isn't it? 

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3 (NKJV)

They were not grateful. Their minds were set on their past worldly experience that seemed to be joyous but really they were blinded. They forgot about the numerous beatings from the Egyptians, the long days working in the sun and the many times that they wondered if it would ever end. Truly you would think that they would be grateful but they weren't. As a result, they never got to see the promise land. They never saw the land flowing with milk and honey.

Grumbling is an attitude that we must be aware of. We don't want to miss what God has for us because we complained. In the midst of every storm, God is there. He knows best. He sees the end from the beginning. 

An attitude of gratefulness will sustain and carry us through. It will bring us to the promise. In everything, give thanks and be grateful!

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)