Bye

You recognize this statement, don't you?
It's usually a summation. An epithet for some poor soul who's reached the end of their frustrations and has decided to "End it all."
The next thing that happens is some form of "leap" to their ultimate demise.
I feel like I need to say this before I continue on - I'm not trying to be insensitive. I can only imagine that there are some who feel like they're truly spent and can't see how to muster the hope to go on. Also, I'm surely not about to belittle the reality that is clinical depression. I hope that if I'm ever in a situation to help that I would pray earnestly, and direct someone to solutions that can make a real difference: professional counseling and the like.

My only motivation for today's post is to point out what seems to be a pattern here. When it comes to the world we live in, becoming fed up seems to follow a familiar prose.
Living. Struggling. Flabbergasted. Forfeit. Finished.

I wish I had a better transition to put here, but I always feel pressed for time when it comes to keeping the posts brief, so here goes:

When I think about what it means to live for Christ, and to appropriate His power to affect our day to day lives, I've come to realize that there is really two kingdoms in play.
One kingdom is trying to masquerade as the other, but only one kingdom is the true Kingdom that will conquer and afford its subjects blessings in the here and now as well as eternal glory at the return of its King.
This cruel world makes promises that are double lies; It can't keep them, but never really intended to in the first place.

This cruel world is under the power (lower case p), of a master deceiver that knows how to hide the bait and set the hook to where you wont know it's a trap until much further down the path to where the despair is real.
As Christians living by The Spirit, we need to know that these two kingdoms are at odds with each other and usually, if you can identify a pattern for this world, you can assume that the real kingdom's pattern is different....not necessarily reversed , but different. The world's pattern is
    Living. Struggling. Flabbergasted. Forfeit. Finished.
But for us, our pattern is
    Finished. Forfeit. Living. Struggling. Faith.

Here's The Word:

Ephesians 2:1 - 2 (plus) 13 & 19 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

I believe that's one of the realities that make us a "peculiar people", the way we recognize and embrace the genuine over the counterfeit. The way we see struggle as part of the refinement process rather than some personal vendetta against our happiness, knowing that our current sufferings can't compare to the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:8).

So, say goodbye to this cruel world, and it's dead pattern; the old course that used to have us on the hook. And embrace the new pattern of the eternal kingdom.
Christ said "It is finished", so forfeit your "rights" since you are no longer your own, for you were bought with a price. Start living, since that's what He came for; to give us abundant life. I believe that to apply to now, and also the life to come.
Realize that struggling is part of refining, as it purifies and builds our faith. The righteous shall live by that continuously purified faith.


In Him,
Cros