The garden, the cross and the crown
Posted by appolus on August 7, 2019
If you do not enter into His sufferings you will not be caught up into the glory. (1 Pet4:13, Ph 3:10,Luke 9:23, 2 Tim:2:12) It is in the garden where your will is submitted to His. It is there that the decisions are made in the lives of the saints. There will be many of these moments in your lives brothers and sisters, some smaller, some more overarching, but all are important in our walk with the Lord and all follow the same pattern. For us mere mortals, time and again we shall be faced with the decision to bow the knee to God. To count the cost and then to cry out “not my will but thine be done.” After every garden encounter comes the cross. The cross is where we put flesh on the bones of what we have agreed upon with God. The cross is a place of great suffering, yet without that suffering for the cause of Christ we can never be caught up into the glory. In order for life to arise in victory then first comes the humiliation. It takes humility to draw close to God, it is a part of the pathway to glory. God says that He dwells with the broken and the contrite. He loves a humble spirit, He revives the humble spirit and gives life to the hearts of the broken ones (Isa 57:15)
We are not without the power of God when we walk out of the garden. Once we have made the decision to follow Him to Calvary and beyond, incredibly, in spite of what lies ahead for us or even in the midst of it, we are empowered by Joy. We are told that Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and was then sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2) We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We are strengthened and enabled to endure all things for His sake. We are not like the Israelites who stood before a mountain that could be touched, something external and dark and frightening such was their experience at Mount Sinai. We saints ascend the spiritual mountain of Zion to draw near to God. It is altogether wonderful and marvelous and this my soul knows well. It is impenetrable light invading every part of my being, filling me with a light that dispels the darkness that has come to peer at this oddity full of joy. In that presence there is fullness of joy, we do not draw back from it, we press on in (Heb 12:18-22)
Can you see beyond your sufferings dear saint? Can you see the glory? Can you see the throne-room of His majesty? This is the garden, the Cross and the glory. Can you say with Paul that you consider the loss of all things as nothing in comparison to the excellence of the knowledge of God? To be found in Him.To know God and Him crucified and Him glorified. The man or the woman who comes out of the garden, humbled and obedient to the calling of the cross, is the man or the woman who can and will revel in the glory of God and endure the cross that is set before Him with joy. A place where the darkness of mourning should reign supreme, but is conquered by the glorious light of majesty. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
A Call To The Remnant 
Rebecca said
My 45 year old son just died after 8 days in ICU on life support. Donnie walked with Christ in this life and will in the next. My sorrow is in-expressible but at the same time I have an in-describable peace in knowing the promises of God’s precious Word. This morning at 330 am I awoke to be reminded of the Shunammite woman and her son. As she ran to Elisha everyone heard from her the same thing: “It is well.”
Her son was resurrected from dead … as my son will be one fine day. And I know this was a word of comfort from my Lord and Savior … “It is well.” I spoke out loud Satan will not steal my faith nor my joy in the Lord. God is faithful. His ways are much higher than ours. All things are for our good and His glory. This life is temporary and we all will have a Jordan to cross. Thank you for your words from the Lord … “It is well.”
Rebecca
appolus said
You can truly say “it is well,” sister. I lost my sister three years ago, she was 52. It was brutal, especially for my parents. Yet in the midst of the madness God was our sanity. It is to Him we look to a shudder at the prospect of going through these things outside of Him. God bless you sister and may the Lord of all comforts continue to uphold you so that your soul may testify to the principalities and powers “It is well.” I wrote this poem for a mother who lost her 26 year old son, different circumstances, she struggled with God, same loss. I also know the pain of a having lost a son, God bless you sister…………………..bro Frank
I held him safe within my womb
And kissed him in the birthing room
I held his hand in sickness too
And now I don’t know what to do
My son, my child, my flesh and bone
Has died and left me all alone
And in the night when no one sees
I cry and end up on my knees
I cry to God and ask Him why
My precious son he had to die
And when the morning light appears
That’s one more night I’ve spent in tears
And as the years they slip away
I learn to live just day by day
I turn to God who was so far
I look to where the answers are
I put my hand into His hand
He pulls me up and now I stand
I hear my Father say to me
‘My Son He died upon a tree
I know the pain that mothers feel
When life turns black and robs and steals
And takes a portion of your heart
And tears your very soul apart’
Oh Lord I pray, please make me whole
Replace the joy that life has stole
This pain, this loss, is part of me
But still I’m longing to be free
I choose to walk out through the door
And melancholy reigns no more
I leave behind the shades of grey
To walk in light, to kneel and pray
‘ Come to me child, I’ve heard your cry
I saw your tears when your child died
Rest in me and find your peace
Replace your pain and find release’
Despite the fact we had to part
You still live on within my heart
There’ll never be a day go by
A tear wont fall from your mother’s eye