Skip to main content

Transcending

Definition of TRANSCEND

transitive verb
1
a : to rise above or go beyond the limits of
b : to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcome
c : to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence)
2
: to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or power

From m-w.com

Christ knew He was going to die. He was not going to be able to be with His companions on earth the way He was before. But before He left them, He gave them an incredible promise. It's found in John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world is a scary place. Peace is a rare commodity, even in the best of times. On both a geopolitical and interpersonal relationship level, we can find instances where we are without peace. We can get bogged down in the "thick of thin things," or we can find a way to achieve the peace we so desperately need.

I would humbly suggest that the peace we seek is not found from sources outside of us. We can find that in our own selves and in our relationship with the Almighty. It is not for nothing that the Holy Ghost is referred to as the Comforter. Christ referred to the Holy Ghost as just that in the previous verse. He can be our Comfort when all other sources flee or fail.

There are several ways that this comfort can come. It can come as an assurance of personal righteousness - we know through the Spirit that we are clean and pure. It can come as an assurance of a continuation of life after death - those who are taken from us are not lost to us forever. And it can come as an assurance of God's own love for us, as manifest through the atoning sacrifice of the Savior Himself. There has never been a finer representation of love. In fact, all of the assurances the Holy Spirit brings are related to this last one - for personal righteousness is attained only through the mediating and cleansing blood of Christ, and the hope of eternal life is only garnered through the Resurrection. Thus, Christ is the Source of all hope and peace and comfort. And truly, a more excellent source we could never imagine!

So when we are faced with times of hurt and pain and unease and discomfort, we can and MUST remember the Savior. We can come to feel His mighty arms around us, wrapping us in His amazing love and grace forevermore. We can perceive His light in our minds and hearts as we wend our way through dark paths. And we can know, with complete assurance, that we are His - bought and paid for with His own blood.

What greater witness can you desire?

Comments

Joy and Dennis said…
There is no greater witness we can aspire to receive....Christ is there for us. He is here for us. We just have to believe Him and believe IN Him. I guess that's the hard part.
Bill Cobabe said…
I loved how you said - He is "here" for us... He is! And may His Holy Name be praise for it.

Yes - it is hard. But so worth the effort.

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...

Engaged

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...