The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Thanks for the inspiration to Jim Kelly, now experiencing his "best days" in Heavenly places).
"Best Days?"
"We can increasingly know our Lord, love Him, trust Him, obey Him, and communicate Him, regardless of circumstance, situation, or condition. These are "best days," as defined by our Heavenly Father."
The Christian's best days are always ahead, or rather, a timeless forever of wonder ever awaits us as an infinite God continually unveils and displays His glory unto, upon, and within us.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).
When do "the ages to come" that promise "exceeding riches of His grace" begin? Certainly, this speaks of eternity in the Lord's direct presence. However, can the believer view our our "best days" as ahead in this earthly lifetime? The answer depends on how we define "best." We all know the passing of time portends not only of pleasures, but of pains. "Our outward man perish(es)" declared the Apostle Paul of the decay that awaits all who live long enough to experience the challenges of a perishing humanity. Moreover, Paul also said, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (II Corinthians 4:16; Acts 14:22). In earthly terms, this presents a great challenge in viewing our best days as being ahead.
Paul, however, also wrote that "The inward man is renewed day by day." This beckons us to view best days in spiritual terms. The born again believer in the Lord Jesus can walk with our Heavenly Father more faithfully with the passing of time, regardless of that which conditions, circumstances, and situations may bring to us. Of sufferings, the Apostle exulted, "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). We must therefore view the possibility of "best days" in terms of God's promise and presence. We do not ignore or minimize the realities and challenge of a perishing outward frame, nor of the difficulties of our present existence. We do, however, emphasize the promised renewing of the "inward man." Not only can we define matters in such terms. We must.
"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
Challenge awaits us all with the passing of time. Awaiting us even more is the loving and involved presence of the God who promises "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). In this most important sense, we must anticipate best days ahead in both time and eternity, based on the One who awaits us in all. Thereby, we prepare our hearts to experience our Lord's promised presence and working, and even more, to glorify Him by believing the promise of His grace to be known in all that life will bring to us. The Psalmist well knew this truth, affirming "My expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5). We can increasingly know our Lord, love Him, trust Him, obey Him, and honor Him, regardless of circumstance, situation, or condition. These are "best days," as defined by our Heavenly Father. Let us join Him in the anticipation of His ability to fill and fulfill us both now and forever. He will not disappoint us.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
(Romans 8:37)
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