For such Times as These..part one: More than Conquering

The face of the worlds economic landscape is so drastically changing, along with everything else, politics, morale, legislation...I am earnestly seeking the Lord on where to apply myself next. Building is slow. Church building projects have largely haulted across the board as church's are scaling back as well as finding their benevolence funds in need of extra allocation. God is so faithful, eternal and ethereal, of this I am even more convinced, not less.

My hope is not built on the sinking sand of the American dollar or it's allied companion the one world order. This era will pass away, it's monetary systems may pass away, my life may pass away as it appears on Earth, but i am looking for a place, whose architect is not of this world and city is not made by mans hands, who's maker is God. I am living as though i am in this world but not of this world. The popular doctrine of today is that we "conquer" in this realm. However that is not entirely the way i see it in scripture.   To have  "Victory in Jesus," we conquer by not succombing to "conquering" in this realm. The world's (this realm's, it's systems, standards, culture, ideologies), formula and satus symbols of success/conquering are: Greed is winning, more, not less,  luxury, not necessity, bigger, not simpler, popular, not right, comfort, not sacrafice. striving, not contentment and things, not people. 

I am convinced, that only, the sustaining meat of the Word is what we have to hang on to. I have had, during these trying times, hung onto essential themes from the book of Job to the apostles, their lives, ministries, words and martyrdom deaths. In them, we see that they/we  more than conquer.  We achieve for ourselves eternal life when we lay our lives down. We do not strive for our stuff, place, things. Strife and peace are antonyms.

Peace comes when we more than conquer. Conquering in this realm achieves for us momentary relief. More than conquering achieves for us eternal results. Job chose the eternal, the apostles chose the eternal. They were following the ONE great and mighty God, who was manifest in humble and pure form, a submitted bio-ped that God chose to call "man".  "...who was in all points tempted as we are" Heb 4:15, yet, overcame.   He loved not his life unto death. The Apostle Paul said: "None of you have loved NOT your life unto death."

I have an inescapable urging to tell the "truth" in such a times as these, when spin is accepted as normal and perception is approbated as truth.   When "gain" is taught as a measure of  "Godliness" ITim 6:5 and other idols are erected in the media to coerce us to buy in, so someone can cash in, on our "gain"...which is actually our "loss" of morality, fiscal responsibility, covenants and peace. Christians, by statistics, are no exception.

Success in this life is a blessing, but success that entails strife, envy, quarrels, fights and stepping on one another is not conquering in the spirit. What a mirage! That, my friends, is spiritual defeat. Conquering in this realm is not necessarily a victory in Jesus!

Be at peace and may the Lord grant you strength and courage for the journey, love and wisdom for the hard decisions, as well as the day to day minute ones  and a clear and sober mind for the times and seasons of our lives.