Faith that Produces Courage
Another beautiful day here in Colorado! For me it was combination of some office work, yard work and a fitness center workout. The extra activity with being able to get outside provides some additional therapy and some challenges as well. I am strategically placing some canes to help me get places where my wheelchair won’t go outside.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 GNT) So we are always full of courage….For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6,7 GNT)
At the end of 2 Corinthians 4 and the first part of chapter five we find Paul discussing the hope and courage we have because of the resurrection and the promise that provides for those who follow Christ. In looking toward that time Paul asserts, “We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) This verse reminds us of Paul’s letter to the Philippians when he said, “….which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing…” (Philippians 1;22,23)
We also see Paul pointing to the resurrection of all believers when he writes, “…We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence.” (2 Corinthians 4:14) This reminds us of his letter to the Thessalonians when he said, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
What we find is Paul telling believers that because of the resurrection of Christ and the promise of our own resurrection and an eternity in the Lord’s presence, that it provides perspective for this life. We understand that this world is temporary, heaven is eternal. There is turmoil and the decline of our mortal bodies, but we look to a time when our bodies will be changed and we will have a “heavenly body.” While we don’t know or understand what all of the entails, Paul says the important thing to remember is, “God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.” (2 Corinthians 5:5)
As a result, “we live by faith, not by sight” And when we place our faith in Christ and the future He has promised and has in store for us it gives us courage to face discouraging situations. It gives us perspective and hope that is needed to make sense out of a life that often doesn’t make sense. Regardless of the struggles and challenges of this life we have a future that will out weigh them all.
As I have been in my physical recovery process, I find that many of the issues that were so critical and the challenges that loomed so large are now a distant memory. Restless days, uncertain days, days of pain or discouragement are now in the rear-view mirror as I journey onward in life. I believe that is what it will be like when we are loosed from the chains of this life and ushered into the Lord’s presence. We don’t focus on the temporal, but the eternal, we don’t focus on alone what we can see with human eyes, but what we know is our destiny through “eyes of faith.” And that gives us courage to face tomorrow.