It’s easy for good things like family, job success, and financial security to become more important than knowing Christ. We may not openly declare them to be so, but in practicality, they often take priority in our lives. We turn many “good” things into idols. A startling call from the Lord may reveal the idols of your heart.
That startling call for me was a massive stroke. God’s Word shows me that the results of my stroke have taken away some idols in my life. The Lord’s severe mercy becomes real to us when we lose something precious. “You do not know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have” (Tim Keller). When left holding nothing but Jesus, we finally see that we’re holding onto everything!
I’m slowly (and somewhat reluctantly) learning that the struggles following my stroke are not worth comparing to Christ’s
Glory that will be revealed in us (see Romans 8:18). They’re but a light and momentary affliction compared to the eternal weight of glory I will know in Christ and in eternity (see 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).