Diaspora
Followers of Christ keep faith in Him seeking a city prepared by God. People speak of Heaven, and it is. But more, it is the city of the living God. Followers are in covenant with God through Christ Jesus. Trials, troubles, and battles are in the world we know. Believers in the Way go through these in covenant with God and are a diaspora on earth. We are not home yet. Prayer and his Holy Spirit connect us with the Father through Christ. Those who don’t believe or follow Christ are not forgotten. Jesus is the Shepard who seeks them out in many ways. The trials and tribulation exist either way, but who has the victory? It is Christ who defeated death and hell. Therefore, be joined with him in faith. Speak out his name and call on him to save, not only through trials, but for eternal life in him after death.
The essay:
When the sun has faded, and time is frozen, my Father is there. He never left.
When the mind has had its fill of trials and the soul is stricken, my father is there. He is deeper than the mind that could handle no more.
The night has come. Faith is weary. Hope is distant. Hard resistance has hindered the race. The prize is real, but not in sight.
In the fathers arms I will find rest. In his word I find hope. In his arms I rest. In his face I find love. In his light I find life.
The face of opposition is hard with scowls, scorn and bared teeth! Then, there is the steady pounding waves of exhaustion. Coldness, cutting coldness sinks in. Sunshine and warmth are distant; out of sight.
In my Father’s hand are jewels of many colors. They grow in these times. He holds treasure that no enemy can steal. He releases them in my heart according to his Spirit. He is indominable. He is strength and fire of zeal. He is a smoking cauldron of unquenchable purity. He is holy; holy forever.
My Father is gentle and fierce. He is light and glory imperishable. He is worthy. I worship him.
2 Corinthians 4:6-10 – American Standard Version
6 Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; 8 we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; 9 pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
By public domain.