The following is an excerpt from a book I was working on a few years ago called Depression, Demons and Discipleship. Over the next few posts I will provide the entire chapter entitled the Demon of Self-Pity.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:1-3)
The demons of self-pity hate this Scripture. The overall key to overcoming self-pity is to take your eyes (emotional, spiritual, and perhaps even physical) off self. We must “fix our eyes on Jesus” in order to maintain a healthy spiritual perspective. What should we see when we focus on Jesus?
· author and perfector of our faith:
“ The term archëgos, translated “author” (NASB, NIV) or “captain” (KJV), means “pioneer” (NRSV), “leader” (cf. TEV) or “champion.” The term was used for both human and divine heroes, founders of schools or those who cut a path forward for their followers and whose exploits for humanity were rewarded by exaltation.”[1]
Without Jesus we would have no faith. Jesus is the source of our hope, our redemption, and our righteousness. By living in relationship with Him and submitting to his leadership we will grow in our faith. Trials draw us closer to Him, so that we may experience intimacy with Him at deeper and deeper levels, perfecting our faith. In the deep places of pain that no human can share with us, Jesus comes to us with comfort, love, and ultimately even peace. The greater the pain we face, the greater the comfort we can receive from our loving God.
· for the joy set before him:
I saw the Holy City
One of the seven angels… came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City Jerusalem
WOW! This is the joy that was set before Jesus -- his wedding day! This wedding will, of course, be a wedding unlike any in the history of mankind. We can only begin to imagine the splendor, brilliance and grandeur encompassing the wedding of the resurrected and glorious Jesus Christ to his bride, the church of the redeemed! God has given us marriages and weddings so that we can have the minutest glimpse of the joy and celebration and magnificence that will permeate Jesus’ wedding day, and time eternal afterwards. Weddings bring many changes to the lives of the bride and groom. Jesus’ wedding day will also mark a new beginning. The dwelling of Jesus and his bride will be the New Jerusalem -- a time and place in which God will live together with man-- where sin and pain and tears and death no longer have a place!
We have the same joy set before us!! If we belong to Jesus’ church, we are the bride! The anticipation of your wedding day is overwhelming! The joy, the excitement, the planning, the preparation, the showing off the engagement ring! Are we looking to the joy set before us, or to the problems of today? During my engagement, sometimes the planning and decision making became tedious and difficult, but I persevered through it for the joy set before me that one day very soon I would walk down that aisle to be united with the man of my dreams for life! I would have the joy of being with him when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I would be able to share my joys and my sorrows with him. We would be able to live out our dreams together. Well, we are going through our engagement to Jesus. Are we focused on all the difficult details of living life as a Christian, or are we anticipating that glorious day when we will be united with Christ in a new and even more intimate way? Are we focused on the self denial (think about how many brides go on a diet in order to look her best on that special day), or are we focused on the groom?
If your own marriage has turned out to be less than anticipated (mine has ended), remember that our marriage to Christ will be perfect – no pain, no death. He will wipe every tear from our eyes – and tears will never come again. If thinking of your own marriage is part of the depression, think of being with Jesus – your King, your Saviour, your Redeemer, your very best friend, and the Lover of your soul – forever in a place where pain and sin have no place. It will completely eclipse the pain we face now.
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993, Inter Varsity Press, p. 654.
No comments:
Post a Comment