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Vreugde te midde van droefheid

Vreugde te midde van droefheid

Die Bybel sê vir ons dat Jesus op die aarde “deur mense verag en verwerp is, ‘n man van smarte en vertroud met lyding. Soos een vir wie die mense hulle aangesig verberg, is Hy verag, en ons het hom nie geag nie” (Jesaja 53:3 NIV 84).

Ons weet dat Jesus se lewe nie een van pret en speletjies was nie, nie gevul met vermaak en afleidende vermaaklikhede, ligsinnige bedrywighede of plesiersoekende afleidings nie. Jesus het mens geword vir die ernstigste redes ooit – om sonde uit te skakel, om rebellie te stop, om leuens uit te roei en om ons Verlosser te wees.

En Jesus het geweet dat om te wen, om sonde uit te roei, om Satan en sy mag van die dood te vernietig (Hebreërs 2:14; 2 Timoteus 1:10), Hy self baie dinge sou moes ly, verwerp en verag sou word en uiteindelik gekruisig word. Hy het geweet dat die pad wat Hy sou stap nie maklik sou wees nie – maar ten spyte van al die hartseer, pyn, stryd en lyding, het ons magtige Verlosser nie gewankel nie.

Hoekom? Omdat Hy werklik liefgehad het. Sy liefde het Sy hart nie op Homself laat fokus nie, maar op wat Sy dade sou bereik en daarom, ten spyte van die pyn van Sy verblyf, “wat vir die vreugde wat Hom voorgehou is, die kruis verdra het, die skande verag het en aan die regterkant van die troon van God gaan sit het.” (Hebreërs 12:2 AFR33).

Te midde van mishandeling, verwerping, verraad, ongeregtigheid, marteling en kruisiging, het Jesus vreugde gesien. Daar was nie vreugde in die ervaring om verraai, vals beskuldig, verwerp, verag, gemartel en doodgemaak te word nie – maar eerder in die vervulling van Sy missie, om te bereik wat Hy kom bereik het. Daar was vreugde in die wete dat Sy keuse om die waarheid van God uit te leef, om volkome lief te hê, om getrou aan Sy Vader te bly, om slegs die ontwerpwetmetodes van die hemel, waarheid, liefde en vryheid te beoefen, ten spyte van Sy mishandeling, Hy hemelse lig sou openbaar. Hy sou die Vader van blaam suiwer. Hy sou die waarheid van Sy eie karakter van onbaatsugtige liefde demonstreer. Hy sou Satan as ‘n leuenaar en bedrieër ontbloot. Hy sou die besmetting van vrees en selfsug wat die mensdom besoedel, vernietig. Hy sou ‘n volmaakte sondelose menslike karakter ontwikkel. Hy sou die geneesmiddel voorsien wat nodig is om elke mens wat Hom vertrou, te red; en Sy optrede sou die middele voorsien om uiteindelik alle sonde, lyding en dood uit God se heelal uit te skakel en sodoende alle dinge tot volmaaktheid te herstel.

En ons kan dieselfde vreugde ervaar te midde van die hartseer en stryd van hierdie sondige wêreld. As ons ons oë gevestig hou op Jesus soos Hy Sy gevestigde oë op die Vader gehou het, en as ons die waarheid van die Groot Stryd onthou (dat ons in ‘n universele oorlog is), die ontwerpwetmetodes van God, en ons krag om lojaliteit aan ons Skepper te kies deur Sy ontwerpwetmetodes op ons eie lewens toe te pas in hoe ons onsself regeer in die aangesig van wêreldse ongeregtigheid, dan kan ons, soos Jesus, weet dat ons ligte in ‘n donker wêreld is, dat ons ‘n getuienis is, soos so baie van God se vriende deur die geskiedenis heen – soos Daniël, Stefanus, Paulus en die talle Hervormers. Ons sal getuig van Jesus, van die God van die hemel, en van die metodes en beginsels van lewe en gesondheid. Ons sal met vertroue weet dat ons hartseer, ons stryd, ons probleme nie kan verhoed dat die hoër doel of impak van die hemel se liefde, waarheid en beginsels deur ons skyn nie; en ons kan die vreugde ken om hemelse lig aan die verlorenes te openbaar en siele vir God se koninkryk te bereik! Ons, soos Jesus, kan die vreugde van doelstelling, die vreugde van sending, die vreugde van die bevordering van God se koninkryk ervaar in die aangesig van aardse smarte, en daardeur weet dat ons dat verbygaande pyn en stryd in God se hand meewerk om die koms van ons Here te bespoedig (2 Petrus 3:12).

So

Kom ons vestig ons oë op Jesus, die outeur en voleinder van ons geloof, wat vir die vreugde wat hom voorgehou is, die kruis verduur het, die skande verag het, en aan die regterhand van die troon van God gaan sit het. Dink aan hom wat sulke teenstand van sondige mense verduur het, sodat julle nie moeg sal word en moed verloor nie (Hebreërs 12:2, 3 NIV 84).

 

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Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA