[Real Life] Struggles StrengthenSample

His Heartbeat

Do you know how a bag of potato chips is a third full and two-thirds air? That is our faith sometimes. We can be even worse: a fourth full and three-fourths air, if when any kind of struggle comes, we get mad at God, and say, “How could you do this?!” Remember all of Jesus’ friends were poor and died for the faith. A friend of God once said, “If this is how You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few of them!” 

As we conclude this series, I give you this illustration of abiding in Christ. Gordon and Norma Yeager were in a bad car wreck. When taken to the hospital, they were put into one room. There they were hooked to the machines, side by side. As they held hands, Gordon passed away. Norma was still holding her husband’s hand when the family saw the EKG monitor for Gordon—there was still a heartbeat on it. The children said, “If he’s not breathing, how is there a heartbeat registering on the graph?” A nurse said, “That is his wife’s heartbeat coming through his body.” 

We died at the cross, yet we show signs of life because we are alive, abiding in Christ. Abiding is holding the hand of the Savior so that the pulse of God comes through our lives for the world to see. It is not our job to keep our spiritual heart beating. We just hold the hand of Jesus and the heartbeat of God comes through. When that pulse comes during persecution, you show that He is worthy of it, because when you go through suffering it shows that you are committed to Him. 

You suffer in your marriage and you stay married—you are committed to that woman. You suffer in parenting, and you stay a good parent, praying—committed to those kids. You think you will not be able to go any longer but you say, “Lord, I’m just going to keep holding your hand,” and the heartbeat of God comes. There is no greater joy than real life found in Him. 

That is the downside of abiding. But it is nothing when compared to the upside, because you are not a victim, you are victorious in your life in Christ. Hold the hand of the Father and you will be an abiding, full potato-chip-bag kind of Christian. 

Thank You, Father, for the Real Life that is found in my Friend, Jesus. Amen.

This reading plan is based on The Real Life series preached by Pastor Gregg Matte. To watch the whole sermon this plan was taken from please follow this link: Click Here