As I write this, there are four days left on our year-beginning fast for 2020. It has been a good fast. Fasting will sharpen us and make us more attentive to the important things in our lives. The side effects are good, too. Lose a little weight, maybe feel “cleaner,” discover a new level of self control, and so on. So yeah, fasting is good.
It’s hard, too. We generally don’t have all our appetites well-tamed. We are used to feeding ourselves when we are hungry, and we typically feed ourselves what we think we are hungry for. So denying ourselves, even in this narrow arena, can be painful. But we focus on the good that is coming out of it, and even find ways to enjoy it right in the middle of it.
You know what’s better than fasting, though, in terms of enjoyment? Eating, that’s what. This fast is not torture. I am enjoying it. I am growing because of it. It is making me better. But man, I am looking forward to Sunday and the family meal we get to enjoy together!
There’s a little bit of a picture here of the Christian life in the broader sense. We believe Jesus when He says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” He forgives our sins. He heals our diseases. He supplies all our needs. Abundantly. What could be better?
This is a good life. Oh sure, it’s hard sometimes. There are struggles. There is a lot of work to do, and that often leaves little time to do all the struggle under the weight of persecution, tire of fighting temptation, and experience guilt when we ignore the Word and prayer.
But we are growing through these things, aren’t we? Isn’t it great when we experience a breakthrough of any kind? Isn’t it wonderful to have a victory over sickness, overcome lack, and best of all, lead someone to Christ?
Isn’t it great when we realize that we have an increased appetite for Christian fellowship, for the Word of God, for good teaching? Isn’t it great when we are used by God to free someone from the chains of sin and the devil? Isn’t it great to walk and live in the manifested blessing and protection of God? What could be better?
Heaven, that’s what. Victories are the best when we’re at war, but life is better when the war is over. Healing is wonderful, but better still is never getting sick. Comfort; real, Godly comfort when we lose a loved one, is a gift. But better still when death itself is swallowed up in victory.
I love doing life with you. I love having you on my team, in my family, as we fight together, work together, serve together. But man, am I ever looking forward to the day when the fight is over and we all get to enter into real, eternal REST.
We should enjoy life. But we should never, ever lose sight of the truth that we are moving toward a life that is infinitely better. And the best thing we can do is to do all we can to make sure everyone else knows about this future life.
Let’s pray that God uses us, lives through us in such a dynamic way that people will not simply acquiesce to the truth, but desire it. May we ALL experience an anticipation, a deep desire… a hunger… for the ultimate abundant life.
