Contentment

9/30/2011

Weather Report From Heaven: Sunny and bright, with an abundance of light and lots of singing and rejoicing.

Bible Verse of the Day: Philippians 4:11-13 " I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Wow. This is a truly amazing attitude expressed by Paul in the Bible verse of the day, considering all that Paul went through while spreading the gospel message. To summarize just a few of his hardships, Paul was almost stoned to death, many times beaten, flogged, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, sleepless and almost always weary and yet he was content? What kind of guy was this? I believe that Paul had an experience with the Risen Lord on the Damascus Road that was so transformational, so awe-inspiring, that he literally stopped focusing at all on his own life and his personal struggles and instead was laser focused on the reunion that he knew would take place with Jesus in His eternal home. Paul got a glimpse of things in heaven that literally floored him and changed his whole perspective. 1st Corinthians 2:9 says " Eye hath not seen. nor ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." Paul had an experience that proved to him the glory that awaited him. He literally got to see a glimpse of heaven and it forever changed him. From that point forward Paul never complained about his circumstances but rather kept focused on the prize that was his to claim at then end of his race. He shared a bit of what was driving him forward despite all his sufferings in Romans 8:38-39 when he says " For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." So the question for us is how do we find contentment? I know many people that are suffering greatly in their lives right now. They would tell you they have little contentment. They are dealing with divorce, addictions, financial hardships, loneliness, unemployment, lack of purpose and many other ailments. Some are so angry at things in this world over which they have no control, such as the political situation or global climate change,that they are literally imprisoned by their anger. Some people have lots of money, but no happiness or contentment. I also know others who have little in the way of material things but have an abundance of contentment. So what is the answer? I believe our focus becomes our reality. If we focus on all the things that we perceive to be wrong in our life, we can't find contentment. It doesn't matter how much we have, we will always have something wrong. On the other hand, if we focus on all that we have been given in Christ Jesus, namely forgiveness of all of our sins and eternal life in His glorious kingdom, then we can find contentment, like Paul ,in even the worst circumstances. Truthfully, most of us could not survive the type of hardships that Paul endured. We are not strong enough physically or spiritually. Most of us also do not got a chance to see the Risen Lord or a glimpse of the '3rd Heaven' in our lifetimes either. Human nature does not allow us to comprehend just how great heaven will be. We are somewhat limited in our beliefs and understandings by our experiences in these bodies that we now live in. But someday the true beauty will be revealed and all of our fears will be removed and we will know what true contentment feels like. No more wanting, no more comparing, no more complaining, no more judging, but just resting in the peace of our Lord. Proverbs 14:30 says " A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." We can't have contentment and envy at the same time. Our focus becomes our reality. Find contentment in the promises of the Lord, and not in the false promises of this world. When we think of what hardships Paul endured, and yet he was still able to find contentment, the only plausible answer is his contentment was found in Christ. Some 2,000 years later, I feel the answer is still the the same. Though I wonder off the path many times and am vulnerable to my own sinful nature, which includes all of those things that bring discontentment, I find peace when I get before my King and rest. There is no condemnation in Christ, only contentment. I am learning to go there more and more. Someday, I will never leave.