If you're not dead, you're not done!! That's exactly how life works!
I am a leader at a youth group called The Element, and tonight we finished our final message of the series called "People of the Second Chance". The series focused on forgiveness- Tonights message was titled, "If You're Not Dead, You're Not Done"… You see, a lot of us play dead and say 'I'm done. I can't do this anymore" so we just roll over and spiritually die. But God is NOT done with you.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed." In the power of God, there is no "quit" and if He gives you His Spirit, then there is no quit in you either. God doesn't give us problems just to make us suffer— Did you ever think that maybe God placed a problem in your life because you're the only one He trusts with it?
In life with Christ, there is NEVER a game over! The youth pastor (Terry Parkman– one of the most inspirational people in my life) trains guys in MMA and he says to them, "When you get in the ring, you don't come out unless your hands are up in victory or you're on a stretcher." God has well equipped each one of us for the win. He trains us from beginning to end. Some of us don't like to get hit, but God is right there cheering us on. He wants us to have victory, and if we completely trust in Him, any fight that we go into, with Him behind us, is a fight that we will come out of with our hands up!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God KNOWS the plans!! It says so right there in Jeremiah. So, STOP PLAYING DEAD!!! And remember: Rock Bottom is a great foundation to start rebuilding your life upon. Success is getting up one more time than you were knocked down. Let God be your fight coach, and you'll always have victory.
