I think this to be a dumb question, but the answer is almost always, “Well, everyone in the family is alive and that’s what’s important. All this, (as they point to the destruction), is just stuff that can be replaced.” Then, the other question the news reporter learned in reporter-school asks, “What are you going to do now?” With a brave face, the answer is often, “We’re going to rebuild.”
Like most of you, I often ask, why rebuild in a place called Tornado Alley? Are they not setting themselves up for this to happen all over again? Some of these people admit to the fact that this devastation has happened to them before. Oh well, we do not know the hearts and reasons these hearty people choose to rebuild and start over, but that is their free choice. Eccl. 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
If we have experienced spiritual loss through repeated sin because we rebuilt in the same place as in our personal, Tornado Alley, then it might be time to move. If some of us are finding it difficult to overcome tempting fruit that causes us to fall repeatedly, then it might be time to get out of that orchard and focus on redemption rather than self-righteousness, rebuilding on the same spot called mayhem. Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Minister Phil Drysdale says, “Spiritual maturity is not a process of you working on your sin – it’s a process of you discovering your righteousness!” 2Cor. 5:21 For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Christ, our Lord, has already paid for our sin, now let us grow in His grace-filled righteousness. Let us, through His grace and faith in His righteousness, appropriate the ability given to us to overcome sin. Keep our eyes on the cure for our lives and not the sickness that drags us down.
I can say there are areas I did grow in this year and there are areas I still need great leaps and strides of maturity in order to walk in the peace of righteousness that has been given to me through Christ. Rom. 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
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