Everything We Need

2 Peter 1:3-4 [God] has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us...He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire.

God has given us the tools we need to participate--to be a part of, to interact with, to function--in the spiritual realm, in God's presence with the Holy Spirit--so that we may escape the corruption int he world. I think God is using these scriptures to say to us: My child, my precious child, who I have chosen from all the earth, why do you keep living and frustrating yourself the way you do day in and day out? I have given you everything, every-thing, you need for your life on this earth--your human, temporal life--and for your time after earth--your time in eternity. I have given you all of these tools in your tool box. Open the box and strap on your tools, and begin to live outside of the pain and corruption of this fallen world and live in peace--in the peace you find in me.

We open up God's tool box and we find a flashlight--the Holy Spirit--to guide us along the path. sometimes the path is dark and we will not be able to see the way with our human eyes. We can only take one step at a time because that's all the light we are given sometimes. But that's ok, God only requires us to go one step at a time. This tool also has the unique function of a map and directions--most flashlights don't have that. The map tool shows our final destination--heaven--but not all the stops we'll have to make in between--such as marriage, new job, etc. The directions tool is cool, because it keeps us on our current path and if we listen to it, it will help us from deviating from the course. It says: turn left here, turn right now, keep moving forward.

We also find, in the toolbox, a hammer and a nail--Jesus--because sometimes you have to hang up reminders as to why you are on this journey and that you are not making it alone. These tools are also useful in breaking down walls. This isn't just any hand-held hammer, this is a power-tool hammer. This has some mighty force behind it to break down walls and other barriers that we have around our hearts and in our minds.

The last tool in the box is something out of the ordinary. The last tool is a coffee pot--time before our Lord. Why a coffee pot? The coffee pot does two things: it's the catalyst of the energy that gets you going everyday, and it's the reminder that if you don't have it, you will struggle to make it. Sure, there are plenty of people who go through everyday with out their morning "cup of coffee," but are they really enjoying their day? How many days in a row can they go on like that and still have peace? Do they have peace? It doesn't take much to get your daily dose of God's peace and wisdom. You can get in that morning cup of coffee.

God says He has given us everything we need to partake in fellowship with Him. I encourage you to open your toolbox and enjoy that time.