What if we are never content b/c we are always striving towards an illusion? A lie we were taught in grade school that if we have XY and Z then we will B, happy. We believe this lie because we do not feel happy now. So we think the stuff we want will make us happy. So we are always striving, planning, conspiring how to get more stuff. But what if we weren’t supposed to be happy? What if we were just supposed to be obedient?
What if we were just supposed to be surrendered?
Not happy Nicole??? Are you crazy?! Yes, I know, this is downright blasphemous to the god of our culture. It is a revolutionary thought indeed. But go ahead and humor me. What if a whole generation had this understanding? Imagine a generation of folks who laid hold of this truth and shrugged off their heavy clothing laden with religion and put on their breastplate of righteousness instead. What if they dusted off their shields of faith and actually raised them for the battle at hand? How about they wear that helmet of salvation that’s been laying in a ditch to the side. Let’s see them use their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel to move forward and advance. How about they tighten that belt of truth and then swing their sword of the Spirit all the while declaring that, “WE DO NOT NEED TO BE HAPPY!!!” “We desire to simply please our Father!”
“We desire to be obedient!
We desire to be surrendered!
We desire to be faithful!”
What would happen if this generation were to make such declarations? Well, when one man did such a thing, the earth shook and the veil in the temple was torn in two and bodies were raised from the dead.
And then the lie, the falsehood, the illusion was dismantled.
So indulge me, and imagine that the soldiers of this present generation are now stomping in unison, marching forward in truth and light. The lie is dismantled and under their feet. And everyone around them wakes up and SEES. And the falsehood is gone. The illusion of happiness is gone. And that truth, that freedom, that awakening, brings them JOY. Which is so much better than happiness.
Because it lasts.
And actually fulfills them, the way that their STUFF couldn’t. The way that their happiness never did.
SHALOM
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 27: 51-53
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Hebrews 12:1-2
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.