There are 3 danger times in our lives that we can, or do, take our eyes off the prize, “…the upward call on our lives.” (Philippians 3:14). The first is in our youth when we are in our invincibility phase. The second is in our mid-life when we are confronted with the cares of the world and the deceitfulness or the temptations (Mark 4:19). The last time is in the latter years of our life when we feel we can’t do or be effective. I called these the ‘Danger Times’.
When you look at these times, they can overlap… or they can merge and thus become our lifestyle. Or… we can, at some point, recognize them and seek forgiveness for doubt, despair, frustration, inappropriate words or actions, etc. and then choose to start fresh. Remember, the enemy you know (this state) is sometimes much larger in our minds than in reality and we find it difficult to leave behind the known for something entirely new and different. But what an exchange!
This is my description of what was and what can become once we stop and turn to the Lord. He has promised so much to/for us in exchange:
*I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“(You) are a new creation…” (2Corinthians 5:17-21)
“I will send a Helper…” (John 14:15)
“Greater is He (the Lord) that is in me than he who is in the world.” (1John 4:4)
“Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)
“I (Jesus) am come that they (us) might have life; and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Those scriptures only scratch the surface of what is available to us when we turn to the Lord and acknowledge Him as our Lord. Then we continue to work to make our changed lives evident to all around us as a witness of the Great Exchange.
Scripture tells us that in this life we will have troubles… but we have an even greater promise.
“…in Me (Jesus) you may have peace, in the world ;you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
When we allow the danger times to control, we experience little peace, but we have the promise that we will experience peace when we keep our eyes focused on the one who always cares for us.
