With that question in mind, what do you most need today? Some may say: money there’s never enough or just not enough to make the rent. Some may say: rest, I need sleep I am so tired. Some may say: restored health, ability to do as I once did. I know at various times in my life I have said all of these and more. What do I need? My husband to hear what I am saying, my kids to follow instructions given, my boss to have more understanding, family or friends to give me a break.
Even if every one of these items were fixed, or where we believe they should be. To have all the money I need, I sleep well, I’m able to do physically everything I want, my husband, children, boss, family and friends listen, and the relationships are all smooth. That would be Utopia. I had to look up the meaning of this word before I used it, it means: an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. Have you seen Utopia on this earth, anywhere in your life? No, it is only imagined. There is a perfect place, but it is not attainable while living here in this life other than, preparing for eternity with Jesus in THE perfect place called Heaven.
If there is no Utopia here, then are we destined to struggle for the days we have on this earth? When do we realize things are not the answer. Often, we see in some headline of one who is monetarily rich, and their marriage ends, they are deep in addiction, or they end their own life. We see athletes who once could do amazing feats to only succumb to the effects of disease or age. We hear or know of relationships that were once rock solid seemingly suddenly crumble to nothing. Some who have monetary riches, I have witnessed those riches to be used as a tool to be a blessing. I have seen those with good health and physical abilities use this strength to help build homes, clean up their neighborhoods after a flood or tornado or work with kids at camps.
Back to the question, what is the need for today? I would say peace. That statement reminds me of a clip of a movie “Miss Congeniality” In the movie the women are contestants in a beauty pageant, and they are asked a question: “What matters the most to you?’ When they answer “world peace” the audience would applaud with enthusiasm. World peace = Utopia. The peace I am talking about is for an individual that is only obtainable through Jesus. As a Christian we have a daily, sometime hourly, and sometime moment to moment choice to make. Do I cast all my cares, my hurts, my concerns, my anxieties, my needs upon or to Him? Or am “I” trying to figure it all out.?
I Peter 5:7 says: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
John 14:27 says: 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.
John 16:33 says, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The day I accepted Jesus and became a child of God, this changed everything. My Heavenly Father says: give me your cares, those things that are weighing you down, I will give you peace and by the way, Jesus, He has overcome everything including death! Now does that mean automatically money falls from the skies, I am miraculously healed on the spot, I have strength like Samson, and all relationships are a bed of roses. My Father could do that, He did create the air we breathe, the sun we feel warmth from, the dirt we call earth. However, He did not create sin which has caused the downfall of mankind, which includes me and you. In this sinful world He has said I will give you peace to walk through this life. I am with you and all your needs will be met.
Matthew 6:33 says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If you read the verses prior, Jesus is talking about food, clothing, housing. He will meet our needs and sometimes the desires of our hearts.
Knowing that when I am facing a financial deficit that on paper makes no sense, nothing aligns, how am I supposed to pay my debts? I am to seek Him, He said….and I am taking Him at His word. I do my part; He does His. God does not lie, and His promises are true. In seeking the Lord first, sometimes He has provided extra hours at work, an extra job, tires or a battery that lasted far beyond expectation. He has used people to bless, some who have little to nothing but who understand obedience to God who know, you can never, and I do mean NEVER out give God. When He prompts us, and we are obedient……when He prompts us through his Word to cast all our cares upon Him….He – God, by His character MUST respond. Peace, inward peace, peace that gives rest to weariness, it is attainable this side of Heaven. When my focus is on worry, concerns of this world, my eyes are not focused on my Abba Father, I have now put myself in charge to look for Utopia. When my eyes., when my heart are focused on Him, those worries, concerns are cast upon or given to Him, and I then have peace.
Look Up, Keep Serving Jesus, He is Worthy!