Pinball

Goodbyes.  I know a little about this topic.  Living abroad makes me more than a novice - more than an amateur - it makes me a downright professional Goodbye Sayer.  You get to know how to pack the most in a short period of time, sum up your feelings near an airport gate, and contain tears that want to run like rivers until you are behind security and alone, with a Kleenex, to wipe the moisture from eyes that don't know the next time they will see precious humans you love.

I really appreciate that Jesus was not a stranger to goodbye's as well.  I've been reading the book of John.  The last few chapters are a long goodbye letter to his dearest friends.  At times, they don't get it.  At times, they struggle to understand all that he's communicating to them.  But he knows.  He knows what he wants to convey and the important truths he wants bouncing around in their heads after he's gone.

Before all hell breaks loose, literally, he tells them to take heart - for he has overcome the world.  These are his final words.  He's already told them he was leaving them with a gift - Peace.  He also told them about the Advocate who would come after he left - the Holy Spirit.  He spent lots and lots of time defining and showing them the benefits of remaining in him - fruit.  He's ready.  His last message:  take heart - I have overcome the world.

I'm tired of the message many Christians have been given and are living as if they are slaves to "the world".  The message is that life is like an old-fashioned pinball machine, and you must dodge all the evils life throws at you.  Yet, this is not the truth Jesus left as his final message.  He said he had overcome the world.  He didn't live in a pinball machine.  Evil things happened yet he navigated them through the power of and in the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. Peace in the storm.  Presence in the battle.

What if we - Christians - stopped living as slaves to the world and acted in faith on the words of Jesus?  What if we lived as if Jesus really did overcome the world?  What if crisis didn't bring chaos in our souls but defaulted in dependence on the Overcomer?  What if tragedy didn't bring weak knees and fearful hearts but humble dependence  entirely on the One who we knew would show us the way?  What if financial need led us to praise God before He provided because we trusted that He would?  What if we simply took God at his word ...

Overcoming the world doesn't mean overcoming hard places or difficult circumstances.  Overcoming the world means we don't have to react without hope.  Overcoming means we unwrap the gift of Peace, rely on the Advocate, and start embracing the Presence of the One who walks right next to us through the other side.

No more Pinball Games for Me,
Christina