Do you feel trapped? Does it seem that the life you are living leaves something to be desired as if something is missing? Are you in a rut, doing the same things day-in and day-out? Where can you go to experience freedom? Where can you hide from the people who just want to take from you and never give back?
I think most people have felt this way at some point in their life. The feeling of utter helplessness and hopelessness caused by the circumstances that surround us can bring us to a point of despair. We often don't have a choice about the situations we are in, but we do have a choice about how we live through those situations.
When Jesus Christ entered into the world, He was sent for a particular reason. He was sent here on a mission. God, the Father, sent His son, Jesus Christ, into the world not to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life." John 3:16
What does it mean to believe in Christ and how do we go about it when the world around us shouts that Christians are weak and misguided?
If you believe that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God, who willingly died for the sins of world and you put your faith in His precious blood as the atoning sacrifice for your own sins, you are forgiven and have become a Christian. You have been born again, not in the physical sense, but in a Spiritual sense. The Spirit of God has taken up residence in you, making you a new creature in Christ. You are now adopted into the family of God the Father and you begin to view the world around you through Spiritual eyes.
The teachings of Jesus are contrary to the ways of the world because He came into this world to overcome the world. If we live according to Jesus' teachings, we will desire to love God and be obedient to Him. "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:3-5
Christians aren't weak and misguided - we are over comers. It's not easy to be an over comer, but Jesus assures us with these words; "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
We can expect trouble, we can expect adverse conditions, we can expect sickness, pain, heartache and financial set backs, because the ruler of this world is Satan and we are told that he is a liar and the father of all lies. Satan is roaming about the earth seeking to steal, kill and destroy - that is his mission.
But when Jesus arose from the dead, He overcame death itself and because He did, we, as believers, will have eternal life with Him. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21
Jesus is coming back for all who believe in Him. We don't know when, but we know that He said it and we can believe Him because He is trustworthy.
When the world seems to be getting the best of you, when you experience despair and depression, remember these words: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35, 37-39
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20