Habitation part 4
Let me drop my memory verse and then try to build off of it. "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:8). In other way, no matter what, it's all about love. Because God is love. We live unto the Lord. We die unto the Lord. Everything that happens... we have to experience it through the framework of God living in us. We can only live unto Him, because He lives in us. We can only be His habitation because HE made us His habitation. And I always use the example of Jesus being a carpenter (even though I'm pretty sure carpenters pretty much just make smaller things like furniture and not houses) because He's a builder. So let's talk about being builded. Or, in a sense, moving into that new (true) house that God built for us (that God built US into). It can be a transition. And, like I always say, sometimes when you move... the stuff you accumulated over time doesn't fit into your new place. A lot of stuff you've become "comfortable" with needs to be just left behind. Lay aside the sin and the weight that so easily besets you. What's that thing about picking up an object, and if it doesn't give you joy getting rid of it? I think that might be a little extreme. I don't think everything in your life should necessarily bring you joy. Some things you need because you need them. But if something makes you miserable... it got to go. This life is what we have. And its not supposed to be suffered through. Its supposed to be enjoyed. Life is a gift. And, listen, I know being unconditionally loved is a pretty radical concept for most people. I know its kind of a rare thing, to be honest. To find someone who loves you no matter what. But that's what this abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life is built on. It is built on Jesus. The Rock. Love. And here's the thing about it, we don't have to take God's love for us on "blind faith." I don't think there's such a thing as "blind" faith. Because faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is believing what God says about you is true... because He shows you that its true. Unconditionally. Every second of every day. Over and over again. Especially when you need it most. And in the face of that kind of long suffering, unrelenting, unconditional love... I believe anybody--everybody--will come to believe it. We believe a lie like its no big deal. Because usually that's what we already think about ourselves. But it can take a little longer for us to trust that still, small voice deep inside. To believe that we are worthy of being loved. To believe that no matter what we do... God still loves us. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. His love is where we live. Whether we live OR die, we are the Lord's. He loves us. He IS love. What else could He do? That's not just what God does, that's who He IS. And WHERE He is (aside from being everywhere all the time) is in us. We are the house that He built. And there's not room for everything we've let drag us down. So just let it go. When Jesus--when love--is holding us up, nothing can drag us down. Give your new (true) home a chance. Let God's love fill you up so that there is not room for anything else!