Momentum For Monday, August 19th 2024

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”’ (John 16:33)

Recently, I was talking to a guy that asked for some assistance from the church. He was staying in a homeless shelter and had all of his belongings in his car. In the small window of time I spoke with him, he made mention of how ashamed he was of his life currently. I tried to encourage him to not feel embarrassed and prayed for him before he left the church.

And I don't know this guy. I don't know if he was being honest or not (I don't really care either). Or if it was his fault if he was in the mess he was in. I just know that I've not made the best decisions in my life and have made major mistakes too. My issues just look different.

What I also know (and you do too) is that life can be rough. Living in this world is messy and has been messy since the original sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Every kind of sin imaginable has been occurring since then. Dysfunction is now naturally part of this world. In the words of Solomon from the book of Ecclesiastes, "there is nothing new under the sun."

Scripture has been telling us about the human condition for centuries. It has told us about every issue or sin known, big and little. If you read or have read the Bible, you'll know what I mean. We won't be surprised when people do the unthinkable. It's been happening for a long time.

If we just end the conversation there though, humanity seems hopelessly doomed forever. The great thing is that God made a way to help the human condition of sin. His name is Jesus. And his grace covers us because he became the sin we commit (not just past-tense, but present and future too). And even more, God sent us the Holy Spirit to help us from the inside out in our every day living.

In the hardest places, we're not alone. In the most impossible situations and problems, God makes it possible. He is in our most embarrassing and shameful situations, God restores us. That's where we have to keep our focus and thoughts.

“For [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

(Colossian 1:13-14)