PERSPECTIVE

Don Atkin

FACING DEATH – Part 4

Your circumstances are your cross today.

God sent an angel to change Peter’s circumstances by delivering him from a prison.  He sent an earthquake to deliver Paul and Silas from prison.  He did not change Steven’s circumstances.  He was stoned to death while gazing into the open heavens.

For some in Orissa, India (and other places in the world), their circumstances may mean physical death, the death of the body.  It’s okay to pray about your circumstances.  But, pray in ultimate submission to God’s will.  Jesus did:

Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. – Matthew 26:39.

The Man Jesus had already settled the issue.  He knew that He was in the Father, and the Father was in Him.  The inwrought cross had done its conversion work long before the physical cross shed its shadow against Jesus’ earthly life.  Jesus knew Love.  He had become Love through the cross.  He was able to say, If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.

Paul also had embraced the cross and found Love.  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

The boldness that loves indiscriminately and unconditionally is released in God’s sons who have settled the issue.  Those who are ready to die are free to live!  They are neither crushed by criticism not puffed by praise.  They have died, and their lives are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:1-4).

Negative circumstances ought not to affect us negatively; positive circumstances ought not to affect us positively.  We are not our own.  We have no agenda of our own.  All things work together for our good.  Our destiny is unaffected by our circumstances.

Paul wrote from prison: I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13.

What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. – Acts 21:13.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21