OUTCOME

noun: something that follows as a consequence; a result

Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation. Hebrews 9:28

My husband and I love sports, especially football and baseball. We enjoy getting caught up in the energy of the crowd, the competitive spirit. And the most exciting part? I think it’s the unpredictability, the suspense, the fact that no one ever knows ahead of time who is going to win the game.

But we don’t really like that unpredictability when it comes to real life, do we? We want to know how things are going to turn out. We don’t like to wonder about or have to wait for the outcome.

When I write in my prayer journal, I start by thanking God for so many things. But it doesn’t take long for my thanks to turn into requests, and my requests to spin into worries.

· How is this ever going to work out?

· What if the test results aren’t good? What if healing doesn’t come?

· Where are you, God? Are you going to come through? And may I ask–when?

We want to predict. We want be sure. We want to know the outcome, but we don’t always get to. Jesus is the only one who does.

And here is what he tells us in Revelation 21:4-5: “He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good–tears gone, crying gone, pain gone–all the first order of things gone…Look! I’m making everything new.”

The hard stuff of this life is just hard. It’s messy; it’s unpredictable; and we lose sometimes. We don’t always get the outcome we are hoping for. He doesn’t promise that. What he does promise is to be with us through it all, to bring his grace and peace to everything we ask him to.

Because of his sacrifice for us, we have so much hope. We have his absolute assurance, his promises of victory and healing, freedom and peace, redemption and joy. The final outcome for those of us who belong to him? “Precisely, salvation.”

How amazing that we get to know ahead of time that we are going to win!

Invite Him In

Place your worries before God and let him hold your fears and future. Ask him to help you trust him as you relinquish your grip of control to him. No matter what you are facing, the final outcome is in his hands. And so are you.

One WordSusie CrosbyJune 22, 2020Comment