A Call To The Remnant

I have noticed over the years that most of the encouragement we give to other saints is outcome based. What do I mean by that? Well, the most basic example would be ” there, there, everything is going to be okay.” It is very hard to say anything against this kind of encouragement because, on the one hand, it is spiritually true. Yet, what holds true for us as saints in the spiritual realm, does not necessarily hold true in the realm of this world. Let me give you an example. Someone is dying of cancer. Do you tell them everything is going to be ok, meaning they are not going to die, or is everything going to be okay because Jesus rules and reigns in their lives? I believe that is the fundamental difference between spiritual encouragement and what is often just a very human reaction to someone in a difficult situation. When Jesus was talking to the thief on the cross, in the natural realm, everything was not nor was it going to be ok. Yet, the encouragement that the thief gets is two-fold. First, he is in the presence of Jesus and he recognizes it, secondly, his encouragement from Jesus was that this very day he would be with Him in paradise. Obviously that is an extreme example but I believe the principles and the applications are sound. First and foremost, the greatest help for any saint is to be in the presence of the Lord. Secondly, the sure knowledge that no matter what happens, we will be with Him eternally is our firm foundation. This is why there is no victory for death and the grave has indeed lost its sting. Unless that foundational truth rules and reigns in our hearts, then the enemy will always have some kind of access to our hearts and minds, set up some kind of stronghold in our flesh, and from there could mount daily attacks.

We are called to comfort one another with the very comfort we ourselves have been comforted with. What is the greatest, or should I say who is the greatest comfort? The comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we bring Him to bear in every situation then we are in a good place to encourage one another. A focus on Him, He being preeminent in every situation, brings the power of God right into every situation. It is from that place we may well say to someone “there there, everything is going to be ok.” We may say that the Lord is going to heal you, if the Lord said that. We may say that this very day you will be with Him in paradise. There are many things we may say in the midst of comforting someone, and when it flows from the Holy Spirit of the Living God it will never be wrong. Where we often go astray is when we replace the Spirit of God with wishful thinking and positive thoughts. The key of course, for this and for all things, is to be walking in the Spirit of God and not to get ahead of Him. This is where we run into trouble. We feel the need to say something so we say the first positive thing that comes into our head. Yet, when we actually allow the Lord to go before us, then He becomes a cloud by day and a fire by night. Let Him ever go before us.