How often do we sit and hold on to something's that make us feel alive? How often do we hold on to false comforts? Since when do we need to just hold on tight enough until the end and we can get to our final destination?
I've got news for you…I've read the last chapter, we Win! And if you don't know already, we are victorious in Christ Jesus.
Broken door on this rickety bus that I expected to be legit (oh expectations). I sit in the front row with Andrew, both of us next to the door, 15 1/2 hours from Nairobi, Kenya to Kampala, Uganda. The door doesn't shut fully…it's cold, I've got my sweatshirt, Kenyan scarf, pants, hood up, hat on. Sleep isn't too great but I know I've got a new destination on my heart that God is bringing me to, Uganda. 6 am we arrive in Busia (border town between Kenya and Uganda) – I fill out my departure slip for Kenya and proceed down the road until the line for Ugandan Visas. Brown dirt road, trash everywhere, money exchangers hounding me. Sometimes these environments get me overwhelmed.
(Picture of Ugandan Border Office)
I fill out my visa form and stand in line. I start chatting with a Kenyan man behind me, his name is Michael. We start out with some small talk which normally leads into the question of what am I doing in Africa. I began telling him about the World Race, how God has sent me to be his hands and feet, to bring the power, love and redemption of the Gospel to the world. Michael begins to Share his heart with me…Michael loves Jesus, but I can tell he's been hurt by the world. He is basically holding on tightly, waiting to go to heaven, as if there is nothing left for him. (yes Heaven is going to be so so sweet but theres more here for you in the mean time!) His heart seems sad, hurt, without a purpose left for him. The spirit inside me starts jumping! The first words that begin spewing out of my mouth are the fruits of the spirit…
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (Galatians 5:22-23)
(Picture of a Wall in the YWAM base in Siem Reap, Cambodia)
I begin telling him of the life that Jesus still has for him here!!! He has love for him, he wants joy in his heart, peace in his heart! This lie that there is nothing left for him here, that the world has gone to basically hell is such nonsense from the enemy! Abundant life is available for everyone through Jesus! I laugh in the face of the enemy, because I know he has no hold on me, I am covered in the Blood of Jesus and "I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
He wants us to live in his Love, he gave us this time on earth to enjoy his creation! He didn't die on the cross and take all the sins of the world on himself so that we can just 'get by'. He died on the cross for fullness of life, a life filled with truth, worth, love, value, passion, adventure. There is no weakness in the spirit of the living God, it's victory, comfort, courage, boldness and Freedom! When we feel 'weak' we are actually strong!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Embrace the things that may seem tough, light will shine onto them! The kingdoms answer to suffering the enemy brings is a double portion of abundance of life and love which slaps the enemy on the face, that bruise on Jesus' heal is a representation of the constant stomping of the enemy. We are more then conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Victory.
