Throughout the landscape of the New Testament we encounter a Christ that at times appears to showcase qualities that are opposite His nature. For instance, He never sleeps and never slumbers, and yet, there He is asleep in the boat in the midst of a storm. He never forgets and never fails, and yet there He is, absent when Mary and Martha need Him most as their brother Lazarus dies, even though Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness would NOT end in death. He is the victor, and yet, to the naked eye the Cross seemed to showcase Jesus as the one defeated. In all these stories and more, what looks like a Christ who has fallen short is, in actuality, a Christ about to perform His most gargantuan feats. Could it be that the same is true right now in history?

Difficult circumstances are the seed bed for miracles. However, impossible circumstances are the stage for huge miracles. Most of us want to stay far and away from challenge. But, it is the narrow straits of life that offer us the clearest glimpses of God’s greatness, power, and sufficiency. Revival on the personal level and on the national level is desperately needed right now. But, it will only be found when we embrace the current challenges swirling about us instead of grumbling about them, and we turn toward God and say, “I want you to know, dear Lord, that even amidst this impossible situation, I trust You!"

It’s easy for the Church at present to forebode the portending difficulties ahead. But, as the saints of God, we were not built to forebode, to fret, to whine, or to grumble. We were built to rejoice. But, to rejoice as we were intended by God to rejoice, we need to swap out our perspective — change out of our earthly glasses for a pair of heavenly ones. When we view things through God’s perspective, even the darkest trials become glorious opportunities for the glory of God to shine forth. 

Podcast: The Church at Ellerslie Sermons
Title: Sixteen Days to Extinction