Relaxing Into Trust

We often hear people say, “The first thing I’m going to do when I get to Heaven is ask God _____?” Perhaps they haven’t paid attention to scripture:

“The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” (Rev. 1:14-17a)

When I read about the reaction of men of the Bible as they encounter the glorified Jesus—or perhaps I should say as they encounter Jesus as his natural self, in his natural condition, I deduce two things:

The first is no one, and I mean no one, is going to be standing up asking God Almighty anything. There will be instead much falling down and prostrating—some in worship, many in worry.

The second is none of all this … world … this culture … the busyness and distractions, achievements and accomplishments, which surround and consume us, is going to matter. Not one bit. Not at all.

The Holy Spirit gives us a picture of what that day is going to look like:

“…Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (Phil. 2:9-11)

None of us will be acknowledging anything about this world, this culture, or the cacophony of amusements and addictions and noisy distractions with which we are so consumed each day. It won’t matter then. So, why should it matter so much now?

When we stand face to face with God only one thing will matter: trust. God will ask you, “Did you trust me?”

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (trust) on this Earth?” (Luke 18:8)

“The only thing that counts is faith … trust, expressing itself through love.” (Gal. 5:6)

“Did you trust me for your salvation?”

“Did you trust me in the details of your life?”

Imagine what your life would look like if you actually did act and you actually did live trusting your Heavenly Father—in the details, “casting all your anxiety on Him.” (1 Pet. 5:7)

We could think of a lot of word pictures, but the one that jumps out to me is ‘relaxed.’

Relaxed.

A calm, balanced, relaxed pace that should be characteristic of the children of God. (Oswald Chambers)

This new year may you seek to trust Jesus, for your salvation, and then trust him in the details of your calm, relaxed life.

It is the only thing that will matter.

Next Week: Focus