Cold Comfort

I just finished watching a recorded sermon by the late Ron Dart of Texas. His sermon was titled, 'Cold Comfort'. It was sobering and revealing in several ways.

I will share some of the notes I wrote as I listened to his message. They are not exhaustive, by any means. If you want to get the full import of the message, I advise you to listen and watch the entire sermon here.   [My own added thoughts are within square brackets.]

By the time we reach a certain age, we should, especially if we claim to be Christians and if we are alert to our life's experiences, know that God is not interested in our comfort and helping us live a life of ease and endless happiness.

Consider the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. We are expected to be overcomers (see 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). Overcomers of what? Our natural sinful nature, the devil and the world. That takes much effort. Our eternal security will not be beyond doubt until our names have been written in the Book of Life at our life's end. While eternal life, (which is 'the gift of God', Rom 6.23b) is a free gift, it is something we must fight to obtain and retain. Also, note what Jesus said in
[Remember we are saved by grace, not by works. Grace is a great Bible word. Think of it as: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.]

We were born to win this great prize, namely salvation/eternal life. We were born to be (spiritual) winners, not whiners. Develop the attitude that the Christian life is a serious competition that we must win, at all costs. [Don't believe 'getting saved' is as easy as 'falling off a log'. It isn't! Many preachers are guilty of claiming "Once you've said the 'sinner's prayer' and received salvation, there is no way you can be unsaved. The truth is, as long as you're a physical being, the devil will try to get you to backtrack and regret the lifelong process of repenting and overcoming sin and worldly pleasures.]

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not a book for comforting us (at least in the short term). However, the Bible does have a lot to comfort us if we think in the long term and are saved and we exit this mortal life in a state of grace. The Bible is not about helping us feel better; it's about helping us become better. [It could be said, a life lived without reading the Bible a lot is a life wasted. Note Jesus' words in John 6:63b (A Faithful Version), 'The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life'.]

So, accept that God is not interested in enabling us to go through life with no problems, pain or suffering. He usually doesn't have to do anything as life is tough for nearly all people anyway. However, if it is His will for an individuals life, He may intervene and cause a persons' life to be blessed (for a season, possibly), as He decides.

God wants us to change, toughen up and mature spiritually to become perfect and righteous, just like Him. That is the reason why we were born. May He help us to succeed.