Teaching

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1)

Great Power Principle! Envision your better life, your promised land! Hold on to it, it's your anchor of hope and the engine of your life!

Many people will say: 'How dare you say that thinking of a better life can be my anchor of hope in this life? I think Jesus should be that!"

Well, it is Jesus - both in this life and the next. But who said it's wrong to envision your promised land? What's wrong with segmenting your journey and thinking of the next step in this life before you worry too much about your stepping into eternity?

Jesus said:

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Sounds to be like he's speaking of both now and eternity. Now if you want to be miserable now and today, that's fine, have fun! But don't deny the rest of us the perfectly normal aspirations to have a better life with God in this life.

Imagine a guy coming to this gal and saying to her: "Would you marry me? This is what I can do for you: I'll beat you up every day, I'll treat you like trash in front of the kids and I'll keep you poor and dependent on me for money!"

How many clinically healthy women do you think will smile big and say: "Yes! Yes! Yes!" None, right? Exactly!

If we don't have the aspirations for a better life in this life, we're worse than the average couple who's getting married today, because at least most of them envision some kind of better, not worse life. And 50% of them divorce anyway, but hey they tried didn't they?

Wrong theology denies Christian even the right to try! "Be humble", "don't become arrogant" and other such code words shape up the the thinking of a lot of Christians.

Shake it off, I say! Come out from under such religious influences and come under the headship of Christ. He's not interested in making you look like you've been baptized in pickle juice. He wants you to make it big with him - in fact as big as possible!

Now I understand that some people first have to break the hold mammon has on their lives before they can experience the lordship of Christ. For others, there may be other issues and addictions that have to be dealt with before they can be free.

But all people, regardless of what was the primary issue holding them back or being the root of evil in their lives, all people must be free from mammon, or Satan in the area of money and material possessions.

All people in this world sooner or late somehow own something. All of us need to learn how to be good stewards of material riches, so that the Father can entrust us with the "true riches" of Heaven.

Now, let's envision a life shaped up by the true riches of Christ(partial list):

• Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
• The gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Prophecy.
• Favor with the Father.
• Understanding Scriptures.
• Peace of mind.
• Divine health.
• Healthy relationships in your immediate family.
• Good relationships with extended families.
• Good friendships.
• Good working relationships.
• Understanding of your purpose in God.
• Understanding of spiritual things and realities.
• Understanding of times and seasons.
• Wisdom.
• Knowledge.
• Favor: with friends, family, employer, colleagues, neighbors, institutions, etc.
• Timing.
• Accelerated learning abilities.
• The ability to hear God's voice and specific instructions.
• Protection from accidents and destruction.
• Time saving solutions and ideas.
• Creative ideas, discoveries, inventions.
• Talent discoveries.

Does this sound like a good list to you? It does to me. And this doesn't even include eternal life, which tops any list, any time, anywhere. Now go ahead and start finding the Scriptures that the above mentioned list is based on.
George P. Bakalov