Blessed Assurance

Alone and Broken

Have you ever felt alone and broken, wondering,

Where is God? 

 If we are honest with ourselves, the answer would be yes.

At some point in our lives, if not yet, there will be a time when we beg the question,

"Where are you God?"

          We have believed a lie.  A lie that God is only involved in the good things in life called blessings.  We equate blessings to getting what we want...having our prayers answered the way we asked of them or when things fall nicely into place use the phrase 'It's a God thing" as the explanation. If we took the time to reflect we would know this is not true nor is it biblical. Yet, we continue to fly high feeling blessed until something happens and we are left feeling alone and broken wondering where is God?  As Jesus hung on the cross he too begged the question.

Matthew 27:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, 

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means 

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

          A cry out to our heavenly father as Jesus did from the cross is an example for us to follow. As Jesus hung on the cross bearing the sins of the world he was separated from God.  He took our place so that we never have to be separated from God.  We may feel alone and broken but God is with us! When we believe the lie that God is only involved in good things and good things are blessings we will crumble in our loneliness and brokenness.  We must see blessings with an eternal perspective.

 Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   

         The trials and struggles we go through lead us to the foot of the cross with a cry out to our heavenly father conforming us to the likeness of his son, Jesus.  Suffering with a broken heart gives us insights into the very character of God.   A life's journey of developing Christ like character is a blessing in itself.  

Matthew 5:3-10

Jesus said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

       As I look out to the field and see the lonely tree and broken down wagon wheel,  I think of the cross where Jesus was broken and alone and know I have a God who knows my sufferings.  He promises to carry me through them even though it does not feel like it.  I have faith in his words that all of creation eagerly awaits for it's redemption and these present sufferings do not compare to the glory that will be revealed in us.  For this is my blessed assurance!

~2RJL

Red Heifer Journey

The Journey of the Red Heifer 
Have you ever wondered about the red heifer in the book of Numbers?

  Numbers 19 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. 3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. ...
9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.

I can not help but see the red heifer as a "type" of our Lord and Savior Jesus.  He too was without blemish-perfect in every way. He was without a yoke of sin. They were both led to slaughter for a purpose, to make one cleansed and purified. 

Jesus came to fulfill the law. To make a new way for all to be cleansed and made pure.

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." Matthew 5:17

As the red heifer was led to slaughter to be a sin offering for the whole camp,  Jesus chose to carry the cross on the same path as the red heifer for the sins of the world. He knew he was carrying the sins of the world.

Hebrews 13: 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.


15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 The painful journey of Jesus as he carried the cross for the cleansing and purification of the whole world is beyond my understanding.  It begs from me, my life as a living sacrifice.  As we have struggles and trials in this life, we are being led from the comforts of the city, to a journey of sacrifice.  We look to Jesus for our strength knowing that this is not our home. We praise Him for the washing and purification of our souls as we look forward to the city that is to come.

As I look out to the pasture and see the cattle, I think of Jesus.  His perfect sacrifice and the eternal city that awaits me.
 ~2RJL