What are you afraid of?

“We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.  These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.  Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Today I decided to start with the verse.  All of 2 Corinthians 4 is phenomenal but this last part is the summary, and it is my favorite part.  Paul has talked about what our ministry is up until this point.  Remember our ministry is our testimony, what Christ has done for us.  For me, my ministry is where God has brought me to.  Yes, it is the “I was lost and now I’m found” story.  Many people have that ministry as well.  But what about your testimony makes it appealing or even relatable?  Let me tell you!  It is where you decided to trust God with EVERYTHING!  Not just a few things; not just the big stuff; EVERYTHING.  Don’t have that yet?  Then we need to gain a better understanding as to why we haven’t given up everything to Him.  He is the CREATOR of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE right?  I mean, He did put all of the stars in the sky and called them by name, right?  Then why don’t we trust HIM with EVERYTHING?  Let me tell you what I think it is:  I think we are too afraid.  We are too afraid of what God might call us to do?  He might call us out of our comfort zone.  He might call us to do something that is dangerous.  Or He may call us to do something that we just don’t think we have time for.  WOH!  It’s true though isn’t it?  We are afraid.  And I think it’s about time we stood up and faced these fears.  “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:4 NIV).  Look around you, there are people blinded of the GLORY of Christ!  They are dying inside.  They are blinded by the god of this world, which is the devil.  If we don’t step up, we are letting the people around us die and die forever.  That’s tough stuff, I know.  I can’t believe I am actually writing this.  I can’t believe I am actually facing one of my fears right now by telling all of my fellow believers this: WE NEED TO GROW UP AND STOP MESSING AROUND!  God is calling us to change the direction that this generation is going.  We need to be the leaders of a higher calling.  No more of this slacking off!  LET’S GET OFF OF OUR BUTTS AND CHANGE THE WORLD!  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.” (4:7-9 NIV).  It is with those words that we must be encouraged to tell others about Jesus, not afraid.  Just remember that verse I gave you in the beginning. “Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal.  That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (4:18).