A Turbulent Heart

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve on the "Student Panel" for High Point University' Admissions event, Presidential Scholarship Weekend. One young man in the crowd asked me a question that in the past, I had routinely answered without pause. He stated, "What was the toughest for you about the transition from highschool to college?" In the past, I had immediately responded, "not having my family close by", "meeting a new group of friends", or "being in a new environment." Instead, yesterday, I responded differently. And I said something-that at the time- did not make sense to me. I woke up this morning wondering why I said it, and where it even came from.
"You know, I believe the most important aspect of the transition is having a contentment of knowing where you are-and understanding that you will be in this new environment for four years. Know where you are, and thrive in it for four years. "
I think it is very interesting how often the words we speak are the ones that WE need to hear-not our audience. I had never said anything like that before to someone when they asked about college life. I continually create a lack of contentment within me- and continually find myself anxious for the future.

This morning I was reading a chapter in one of my favorite books of the Bible, Isaiah 40. It discusses comfort for God's people, that is guaranteed when we are in the grasp of our Lord. I noticed multiple verses that mention a common theme...

"Make straight the desert a highway for our God" (v. 3)
" Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the uneven ground shall become level" (v. 4)
"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (v. 5)

Isn't it so true that often our hearts feel one of two ways- like we are in the desert-thirsting for something more to quench the overwhelming desire we have within us. Or, we feel as though our hearts are turbulent-filled with mountains and valleys (sometimes within a 24 hour period!) and laden with uneven ground.

Just as roads transform rocky, sandy, shaky desert ground to solid highways, and turbulent hearts become stable and level, our Lord will do a work within us in the same manner.

He is the steadier of our hearts, the One who smooths the terrain, and the One who calms the violent emotions that take place within us every day.  This is how he comforts us! Often, He doesn't comfort us simply by throwing joy at us-maybe he comforts us by the steadying of our hearts, and smoothing  the rocky nature of our emotions.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken to his people, and continues to speak into our hearts every day. 

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12 

The Lord God Almighty-with strength and power that we cannot fathom takes the time to mold our hearts and steady them. How beautiful is the image of the Lord, that shaped us and formed us, continues to take the time every moment of every day to speak truth to our souls. He does not tire, he does not grow weary, even when his followers do. He does not lose heart when our Hearts lost focus, grow dry or grow turbulent. 

Allow your heart to be steadied by Him. It is His beautiful way of comforting us. 

Contentment is found in the understanding of permanence. Even though we will not be found permanently on this earth, we can stay content where we are because of the over-arching, permanent, steadiness found in Him. 

Defense

Ever since my first psychology class during my sophomore year of High School, I have been fascinated by the word "attractive".  What makes something attractive to a human, and what are the qualifications for making a person attractive?


I even turn this question on the Gospel..what makes the Good News of the Gospel attractive to Christians? And, what makes the Gospel attractive to the non-believer who desires to know more?


Let us look at what Paul wrote to fellow believers, the Phillipians. The title of this section in my Bible is titled, "The Advance of the Gospel", and in other translations "Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel".

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains,most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."
-Philippians 1:16

Paul understood through the Holy Spirit, that joy in the midst of tribulation was the most effective means of spreading the Gospel. Why? Because it was shocking. If we look at our present culture, the shocking events are the headlines. The events that jolt our hearts to ask, "why?" make the news and become popular. 

We were formed to recognize the shocking. We were formed to recognize the irregular, the odd, and the abnormal. We were formed to recognize the eternal. 

Paul knew that joy in times of tribulation brought the Gospel to non-believers and strengthened the spirits of the Philippians. Paul was chosen by God, as a Favored One, to reveal the steadfast and consistent Grace of Jesus. As he states, His mission and calling was to stand in defense of the Gospel. This brings up something very interesting. 

Are we standing in defense of the Gospel? 

de·fense

  [dih-fens or, especially for 7, 9, dee-fens]  noun, verb, de·fensed, de·fens·ing.

noun

1.

resistance against attack; protection: Two more regiments areneeded for the defense of the city.

2.

something that defends, as a fortification, physical ormental quality, or medication: This fort was once the maindefense of the island.

3.

the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument,etc.: He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

To defend something, we must position ourselves in locations where we can aid the Gospel in resisting attack. The Gospel doesn't need us. The Gospel is perfect, flawless and can certainly defend itself. Yet, we need the Gospel. We need to defend the Gospel so that the Gospel is proclaimed and uninhibited in our hearts. We defend the Gospel more for ourselves, than for the Gospel itself. 

We were formed to defend the work of God, because we are the work of God. By standing in the light of God while placed in the darkness of earth we become shocking. We defend the account of the Gospel. We are attracted to the shocking because WE are the shocking! We are the differential in a world of stagnancy. The Holy Spirit within us seeks the Book that was formed by the same hands. The Bible. 

We need not defend the Gospel in the same manner that one defends a city. Guns, armor and ammunition wil not protect the Gospel from attack. Instead, proclamation is defense. It took me a long time to understand that when it comes to Jesus, to protect Him, means to make Him known. Once He is revealed, there is no stopping the power of grace. The only thing that harms the Gospel is hiding it. Proclaiming the Gospel is defense. 

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified". 1 Corinthians 2:2 

Always be ready to defend...or proclaim..the Gospel. 


And, Always be ready to protect your heart. For, "from it flows the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23). Our hearts must stay strong during defense, and if when defending the Gospel, your heart begins to feel troubled, let us rest. We cannot go so far to proclaim the Gospel that we forget the roots of salvation, and neglect the consuming power and presence of the Spirit in our lives. 

"… always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you… " 1 Peter 3:15

When proclamation doesn't seem to be defense enough from the world, remember this: we were made to proclaim His great name. His creation, he nature around us, proclaims the Holiness of our God. Let us take their perfect cue. 

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20