In earthly terms, some naturally view the cup as half empty, some as half full. A completely different sensibility governs the hearts of God's trusting sons and daughters in Christ.
"My cup runneth over" (Psalm 23:5).
A Biblical view of God and His Word, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, inevitably leads to a heart of hope, expectation, and the sense of life as an adventure of faith. Thereby we honor Him with a demeanor and attitude that reflects our confidence that through Christ, empty tombs of victory follow in the wake of crosses and death. Any lesser or other perspective casts aspersions on the Lord whom we purport to trust, but whose reputation we may malign by the implication of hopelessness.
My natural human tendency tends to view the cup not merely as half empty, but as spilled, knocked off the table, and shattered in a thousand pieces. Left to myself, I would consistently dishonor our Heavenly Father by a bleak and forlorn despondency that sees a cloud enshrouding every silver lining. Thankfully, the Lord does not leave me to myself, but works to remind me that the tomb of the Lord Jesus remains empty, He continues to occupy His heavenly throne, and the Heavenly purposes of God march on amid the earthly challenges that will all eventually kneel before the Lordship of our Savior. My Father's faithfulness thus reveals to me a cup that "runneth over" with His Light that "shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).
A fallen world continually presents opportunity to decide how we will view reality, and thus whether we will glorify the risen Lord Jesus. He has already overcome the greatest challenge ever presented by the world, the flesh, and the devil. All others pale in comparison. Expecting that God will apply the truth and power of His Son's resurrection to the particulars of our lives leads to the attitude of adventure that honors Him by our hope. He will not disappoint such expectation, and we will bear witness to a cup that overflows with the risen life of Christ.
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
(Psalm 42:5; 11)
Tomorrow: Conclusion - Adventure and Peace
Weekly Memory Verse
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
(Matthew 11:27)
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