Life's Tracks
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending our General Council in Florida.
On the last morning, Rick Warren addressed the ministers. What a powerful message he presented. One statement that he made stood out to me. He talked about how he had previously believed that life was like a series of mountain tops and valley experiences; much like a roller coaster. One day you are on top, the next you’re at the bottom. But, he went on to say that he no longer sees life that way. Now he views it more like a set of train tracks. One track represents all the bad and difficult things in our life, the other track represents all the good and fun things in our life, and each is happening at the same time. Life is never all bad where we have nothing to thank God for, and life is never all good where we have no difficulties in life. Rather, we have both good and bad happening at the same time.
I like Rick Warren’s view on life. It helps me remember that one of God’s purposes for my life is to make me like His Son Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:28-29, And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God works all things, both good and bad, for His purpose, to make us like Jesus. All includes “all”, bad things, good things, painful things, joyful things, mistakes that we make, and even sins that we have committed.
In other words, God uses both tracks to make us like His Son Jesus. If we are going to be like Jesus, then we are going to need to go through some of the same situations and experiences that Jesus went through.
Rick Warren says, that means he will need to take us …
Through a Gethsemane situation, so we can experience trouble, where we can learn to trust Him.
Through a Desert situation, so we can experience temptation, where we can learn to obey Him.
Through a Cross situation, so we can experience trespasses, where we can learn to forgive like Him.
Now, there is a promise to go with all of this. It is found in Romans.
Rom. 8:17, We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard time with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him. Msg
Next time you are facing some difficult situations, hold on to this promise.
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