Mayberry

When we think of living the Christian life and things associated with Christ, we often let our minds wander to a dangerous place of complacency.  For some reason we think that because we are Christians or because we are doing the "right" thing that somehow, someway life will be like Mayberry.  No real troubles to speak of, everyone gets along, and whistling is being played as the background music to life.  But, if you have been alive for any length of time, you come to realize rather quickly that life is not like Mayberry.

When we accepted Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior (if you haven't and want to, email us...we would be so happy to share the good news of Jesus with you), we did not sign up for a life of ease.  Our life of ease and fulfilled desires will come when we are in the presence of the King for eternity.  We signed up, unbeknownst to us, to a life of continual contention against the enemy of our souls.  Whenever we desire to be who we were designed to be, live a life glorifying to God, or maintain a marriage that is God-honoring we must expect to find ourselves fighting to do so.

The devil does not want us to be close to God, resemble God, or be victorious like God.  Since he cannot defeat God he will endeavor to make those that resemble God fall.  This is why we find ourselves always seeming to struggle to keep our heads above water.  This is why it is so hard to be who we are supposed to be or have the marriage that we were destined to have.  The enemy doesn't want you to win because it only reminds him that he has already lost and nothing is going to change that outcome.

But, we have a hope.  The Bible says that the One in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John4:4).  It's not saying that we will never find ourselves in a situation that we cannot handle.  It's saying that whatever we face from the world or the enemy that the One we have living on the inside is greater!!  No matter how big or frightening that which opposes us is, Jesus on the inside is greater.  We don't have access to some second-rate god or some bargain-basement power.  The One living on the inside of us is the same One that spoke all of creation into existence and continues to hold the past, present, and future in the palm of His hand.

Standing for your marriage is no walk in the park.  Let's not kid ourselves.  Some days it can be downright hellish.  But, it doesn' matter what changes from one day to the next.  It doesn't matter what opposes you today or tomorrow.  The God that has graciously come to reside and abide inside of us has already defeated every foe.  So, stand knowing that God is on your side and He has promised to NEVER leave you.

Life may not always look like Mayberry.  Actually, it may never look like Mayberry.  It might look a little more like Vietnam or Afghanistan.  But, in the end....you win because He won!!

Josh and Serena