Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name Of the Lord!
We lay our cloaks down To honor our saving King, We sing, we shout, we raise our palm branches— But do we really know the One we praise? Who is this?
I mean, wasn’t it a little strange, This King of ours— Riding not a war horse, But a borrowed donkey, Entering not through the Eastern Gate, The gate of victorious kings, But through the Sheep Gate, The entrance for sacrificial lambs?
But not everything He does Makes sense anyway.
Even so, We celebrate Him who Taught us to love others by Showing us, Touching the untouchable, Washing the filth from our feet, from our hearts. Taught us to love God by Showing us, Talking to Him, listening for His voice Helping us see how much He loves us. Taught us to love ourselves by Restoring dignity to me, to broken people, Calling you and me His children, not outcasts, Reminding us that God made us in His image. Set us free with keys of truth, Released us from our bondage, Shattered the lies we’ve learned to live with.
What a King, What a Savior! May He reign forever! Hosanna!
No, I’m not talking about myself. That title is a nod to a humorous old country song—but it takes on a whole new meaning when I think about Jesus.
Lately, thanks in part to watching The Chosen (my favorite TV show), I’ve been paying closer attention to the way Jesus interacts with people in the Gospels. Again and again, I see someone who relates to others from a place of radical humility. There is no trace of arrogance, no hint of, “I created you, so get it together” or “I’m better than you.” Instead, I see someone who enters into the pain and struggles of others, someone who truly sees them and lifts them up as though they are His equal.
And that amazes me. Because Jesus is the greatest Person who has ever lived or ever will live. He created humanity from a lump of clay. He made you and me and everything we can see. He is God incarnate. It doesn’t get any greater than that. If anyone had the right to assert superiority, it was Him. Yet He chose humility.
Why? Why is that important?
That’s what I’d like to expore today.
The Humility of Jesus
Jesus’ life and ministry were marked by humility from the very beginning. He was born not in a palace but in a stable (Luke 2:7). He lived as a carpenter’s son in a backwater town. When He launched His ministry, He didn’t choose to associate with the powerful, but with fishermen, tax collectors, and sinners.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul captures this beautifully:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Jesus humbled Himself, even when it cost Him everything. This is the kind of humility, of sacrificial love, that God wanted us to see when He hatched His plan to rescue and redeem the world.
Humility in Action
One of the most powerful examples of Jesus’ humility comes in John 13, when He washes His disciples’ feet. This was a task reserved for the lowest servant in a household. Yet the Son of God, the greatest Man who ever lived, knelt down, wrapped a towel around His waist, and scrubbed the filth from the feet of those who would shortly abandon Him.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Another example is how Jesus treated the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). He didn’t shame her. He didn’t lecture her. He defended her dignity and gently told her to go and sin no more. He restored her—the opposite of what the religious leaders had in mind to do with her.
Time and again, Jesus humbled Himself to lift others up. Whether it was healing lepers, touching the unclean, dining with outcasts, or offering forgiveness, He consistently put others first.
Humility in a Self-Exalting World
In today’s culture, humility often gets lost. Or worse yet, it is discouraged. Social media, resumes, and personal branding all encourage us to showcase our strengths, achievements, and highlight reels. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-promotion.
But through Jesus’ example, the Kingdom of God turns that upside down. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says:
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
As C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, true humility isn’t about self-deprecation, as so many people tend to consider humility these days. A common paraphrase of his point puts it this way:
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Attributed to C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
All of this gets to the heart of why God thought this was an important characteristic to model for us: it’s about seeing others as God sees them, stepping into their shoes, and offering grace, compassion. The best way we can share God’s love to others is by putting their needs above our own.
That takes loads of humility.
Following the Humble King
But as followers of Christ, we are called to model our lives after His. Of course, that’s never easy. God knows this is a challenge for us. I think that’s why it was so important to Him that Jesus model this behavior for us, show us that we can live lives of humility.
He also knows we’ll mess it up more often than not. But He extends us more grace than we can ever imagine, and asks us to try to do better next time.
Wrestling with Humility
I have to confess here that this has always been a struggle for me. Thankfully, God has blessed me with family members and friends who are so much better at this than I’ll ever be. Through their examples and frequent “gentle” reminders from my journies through the Bible, I am often reminded that this is the way Jesus calls us to interact with those around us.
In case it’s helpful to you, here are some of the questions I ask myself when I am struggling to embrace humility:
When I’m tempted to judge someone else, can I recall to mind a time when I struggled with the very issue that just tripped them up?
Am I willing to serve others without recognition?
Can I celebrate others without comparing myself?
Will I admit when I’m wrong and ask for forgiveness? (my wife will attest to how especially hard this one is for me…)
Do I listen more than I speak?
Can I picture where I’d be, what kind of person I’d be if God hadn’t extended me grace more times than I can count?
When I’m tempted to think of myself or my accomplishments as great, can I picture how “great” I or my accomplishment would be if God hadn’t given me the abilities and opportunities He has? In other words, how “great” would I be if God hadn’t blessed me the way He has?
These are examples of the the daily opportunities I have to walk in humility, just as Jesus did. Do any of these hit close to home for you?
Call to Action
What would it look like for you to embrace humility—the humility that Jesus demonstrated—today?
Maybe it means apologizing first, even when you’re not entirely at fault. Maybe it means celebrating someone else’s success without envy. Or maybe it’s simply choosing to listen more intentionally, putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own.
Take a moment and ask Jesus:
Lord, where in my life do You want to cultivate more humility? Help me to follow Your example, to serve others, and to love without needing to be seen.
Then pay attention to where He leads you. Because in His Kingdom, the humble are the ones who reflect His glory best.
If you’ve seen humility modeled in a powerful way or have a story about how God has used humility to grow your faith, I’d love to hear it in the comments. Let’s continue this journey together—following our humble, loving Savior, who truly is great.
Yesterday I went with my wife and father-in-law to the theater to see Part 1 of The Chosen, Season 5. The theatrical release is combining episodes, so Part 1 is comprised of episodes 1 and 2. This season focuses on Holy Week, the days that start with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and lead up to His crucifixion. For those of us watching from a modern perspective, it’s easy to approach the story knowing how it ends—with Jesus rising from the dead on Easter morning. But if we try to put ourselves in the shoes of His original disciples, the story becomes much more troubling and confusing.
They followed Jesus for the same reason we do—because they believed He was the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God to redeem His people. However, as the show demonstrates, their understanding of what that meant was very different from the truth. Many of them believed that the Messiah would overthrow their Roman oppressors and establish a kingdom on earth. Yet Jesus kept talking about uninspiring things, like grains of wheat having to die to multiply, and even hinting that He Himself would have to die. What kind of Savior and Leader is this who is asking them to trust Him?
God’s Ways Are Higher
Jesus knew that following Him would not always make sense to us. He asks us to trust that He knows what He is doing, even when it doesn’t look like it. Thousands of years before Jesus’ earthly ministry, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah with this reminder:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
It’s not always easy to accept that God sees the bigger picture, especially when life is confusing or painful. But the Bible is filled with stories of people who had to trust God’s higher ways—even when those ways made no sense to them. I think one of the reasons these stories are included in the Bible is to show us that we can—and should—trust God even when it doesn’t seem to make sense to do so.
Stories of Trusting God Through Confusion
Abraham and Sarah
Abraham (then called Abram) waited 25 years for God to fulfill His promise that Abraham and Sarah (at the time called Sarai) would become a great nation (see Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 15:1-6). Sarah was well past child-bearing age, making God’s promise seem impossible (see Genesis 17:15-21, Genesis 18:9-15, Genesis 21:1-7). And yet, Isaac was born.
Later, Abraham faced an even harder test when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the very child through whom the promise was supposed to come. It made no sense. But Abraham obeyed, trusting that God would provide. And God did, replacing Isaac with a ram at the last possible moment (see Genesis 22:1-18).
Moses
When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses protested (see Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 4:1-17). He had difficulty speaking and couldn’t understand why God would choose him for such a massive task. Then, after Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go (see Exodus 5-12), they faced the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit. It looked like the end.
But God made a way—parting the sea for His people to pass through. What seemed impossible was made possible (see Exodus 14:1-31).
David
David was anointed as the next king of Israel while Saul still held the throne (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13). Years passed between David’s anointing and the moment he actually became king. During that time, Saul repeatedly tried to kill him (see 1 Samuel 18-26).
It must have seemed absurd for David to trust God’s promise in the face of so much danger. But he held on, and in time, God’s plan was fulfilled (2 Samuel 5:1-5).
Other Examples
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery (Genesis 37), and imprisoned (Genesis 39-41). But God used every hardship to position him to save countless lives during a famine (Genesis 41-47).
Esther risked her life by approaching the king to save her people. She didn’t know how it would turn out, but she trusted God to be in control (Esther 2-7).
Mary and Martha wept at the death of their brother Lazarus, not understanding why Jesus delayed in coming. But Jesus showed them that even death was not beyond His power (John 11:1-44).
Trusting God through Personal Struggles
None of us probably has to look far to find our own examples of situations where Jesus has called us to trust Him even though it made no sense. For me, there have been moments when I’ve had to stand by, feeling helpless, while loved ones battled illnesses and passed away. While I trust that they’re restored to full health now and celebrating with Jesus, I still miss them deeply.
I’ve lost jobs that I thought were secure. At the time, it made no sense that I was the one let go. And yet, I ended up in better situations each time. Looking back, I can see God’s hand, even when I couldn’t see it in the moment.
I’ve also done my best to raise my children, hoping to spare them from making the same mistakes I did. But I’ve had to watch them stumble, choosing their own path. It’s painful to see them struggle, but I’m learning to trust that God is still at work in their lives, just as He was in mine.
The list goes on, but I’ll move on to keep this from getting too long.
Trusting God in the Unknown
Through all of these situations, Jesus has asked me to trust Him. He’s spoken seemingly nonsensical words about wheat dying to multiply when I wanted answers about healing, jobs, or family restoration.
But even when I can’t see the purpose, I am learning to trust. Each time I step out in faith, I grow a little stronger, a little more rooted in the belief that God is in control. And even when I still feel overwhelmed like the disciples did during Holy Week, I find comfort in His promise, delivered through His Apostle Paul:
Trusting Jesus even when it doesn’t seem to make sense is not easy. But it is worth it. Each time we choose to trust Him, we strengthen our relationship with Him. We allow Jesus to reach through pain and confusion to give us His peace, to guard our hearts and minds.
The same Jesus who walked with His confused disciples through Holy Week walks with us today. He is still trustworthy. He is still working for our good. And He is still leading us toward the most nonsensical idea of them all: Easter. His victory over death. His resurrection and new life.
Call to Action
What about you? Have you faced situations where it made no sense to trust God, only to see Him come through in unexpected ways? Are you in the middle of one of those seasons right now, waiting for the breakthrough, for it all to make sense?
I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments below how God has walked with you through confusing times. And if you’re struggling to trust Him now, I invite you to pray:
Jesus, help me trust You, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Let’s encourage one another to hold on to the One whose ways are higher than ours.
Temptation is something we all face. It comes in many forms—subtle, seductive, persistent—and often targets us where we’re weakest.
Does it mean there’s something wrong with us, with our faith, if (when) we face temptation? No, it means we’re human. God gave us free will so we could choose to be in a relationship with Him. The downside of that responsibility, though, is that we are allowed to make bad choices, which I do more often than I wish I did. How about you?
So how should we respond when temptation jumps out from behind the bush directly in front of us? Scripture gives us two contrasting examples: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Jesus in the wilderness.
Two Encounters, Two Outcomes
In the first two chapters of Genesis, God creates the world and all the living things in it, and then He makes the pinnacle of His creativity: Adam and Eve. God declares it all good, and everything is awesome. The first humans get to hang out in paradise with God.
Sadly, though, it only takes until the third chapter for the wheels to fall off the paradise bus. In Genesis 3, we see Adam and Eve encounter temptation through the cunning of the serpent:
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
With just a few words, Satan introduced doubt, reframed God’s command, and focused Eve’s attention on what was forbidden. Eve and Adam were surrounded by abundance, yet the enemy drew their focus to the one thing they couldn’t have.
Tragically, they gave in. They listened, rationalized, and acted on the lie.
Fast forward to Matthew 4. Jesus, after 40 days of fasting, was physically at His weakest. And right at that moment, Satan attacked Him.
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Satan tempted Jesus with food, pride, and power—each one targeting a genuine human need or desire. And yet, Jesus did not yield.
Why not?
Jesus Didn’t “Cheat”
I used to think Jesus had an advantage we don’t have—that being fully God, He couldn’t possibly fall into sin. But if that were the case, what would be the point of recording His temptation?
Hebrews 4:15 gives us a critical insight:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
Jesus was fully God, yes. But He was also fully human. He felt hunger. He experienced fatigue. He faced the same kinds of temptations we do—but He resisted.
Rooted in Truth
So how did He do it?
Every time Satan presented a temptation, Jesus responded the same way: with Scripture.
“It is written…” “It is also written…” “Away from me, Satan! For it is written…” – Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 (NIV)
Jesus didn’t reason with the devil. He didn’t weigh his options. He didn’t rely on feelings or circumstances. He stood on the truth of God’s Word.
Even when Satan twisted Scripture to serve his own ends, Jesus knew the full context. He discerned the lie behind the half-truth.
Standing on God’s word, Jesus was able to rise above the gravitational pull of temptation and resist Satan’s strategic justifications.
Why This Story Matters
Jesus’ temptation isn’t just a historical account. It’s a model for how we should handle temptation in our own lives.
Jesus came to show us that resisting temptation is possible. He didn’t just resist as God—He resisted as a man empowered by the Spirit and armed with the Word.
And if He could do it without relying on His God-ness, so can we.
Our Strategy for Resistance
Paul offers a practical framework in Ephesians 6: The Armor of God.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Just as Jesus wielded Scripture in the wilderness, we are called to do the same.
When temptation strikes:
Refuse to entertain it.
Recognize it for what it is.
Refute it with Scripture.
Not Behavior Modification
There’s something I want to make sure is clear: the point of following Christ isn’t behavior modification. God isn’t interested in robotic obedience or sinless performance for its own sake. His desire is for our hearts. As I wrote in last week’s blog, the reason God calls us to resist sin is because He wants freedom for us—not bondage. He wants us to enjoy paradise with Him, at peace and unencumbered by sin.
Sin entangles us. It lies to us. It draws us into shame and chains us with guilt.
But God’s love doesn’t disappear when we make bad choices. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), God waits patiently, watching the horizon for our return. The moment we return to Him begging to be forgiven, He runs to meet us, overflowing with grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
Conclusion: Learning from the Second Adam
Where Adam failed, Jesus prevailed. Jesus, often referred to as the “Second Adam” in Christian theology, came to undo what the first Adam had done.
Adam was surrounded by paradise, full and nourished—yet he fell.
Jesus was alone in the desert, hungry, and weak—yet He stood firm.
Why? Because He was rooted in the Word and led by the Spirit.
So the next time temptation comes your way, remember: you’re not powerless. Jesus showed us how to fight back. We just need to be ready to reach for our sword.
Call to Action: Practice the Pattern of Resistance
Temptation is inevitable, but defeat isn’t.
This week, take time to:
📖 Identify your most common temptations. 📘 Find at least one Scripture verse to counter each one. 🙏 Ask Jesus to give you the strength to resist, just as He did. 🛡️ Put on the full armor of God daily—and don’t forget your sword!
💬 Have you ever faced a moment when Scripture helped you resist temptation? Share your story in the comments—we grow stronger when we learn from each other!
Pilate’s question wasn’t a sincere search for understanding—it was dismissive, cynical, and reflective of a world where truth had already begun to lose its meaning.
Fast-forward to today, and it seems we’ve taken this question to heart in ways Pilate never imagined. Our culture has drifted to a place where people talk about “my truth,” as if truth were something personal, fluid, and subjective—something that can shift based on perspective or feelings.
But is that what truth really is? Or have we lost sight of what truth was always meant to be?
The Erosion of Absolute Truth
Our modern world increasingly rejects absolute truth in favor of relativism—the idea that truth is different for everyone. The problem? This mindset crumbles under its own weight.
If truth is relative, then nothing can be trusted. What happens when one person’s “truth” contradicts another’s? What happens when someone’s “truth” is harmful or deceptive? If truth is merely personal preference, then right and wrong cease to have meaning.
Jesus didn’t claim to be a truth—He claimed to be thetruth. Truth, by its very nature, is fixed, unchanging, and absolute.
The Subtle Danger of Moral Relativism
Moral relativism—the belief that morality is fluid and personal—has crept into our thinking in more ways than we realize. It’s not always blatant rebellion; sometimes, it’s small compromises that add up over time.
Truth can sometimes have sharp edges, and we’re tempted to file them down.
We tell ourselves things like: ✔ “This sin isn’t that bad.” ✔ “God understands—everyone does this.” ✔ “That’s just how I was raised.” ✔ “I know what the Bible says, but this is different.”
The moment we start rationalizing sin, we have begun shaping our own version of truth—a truth that makes us more comfortable but ultimately leads us away from God’s best for us.
Jesus warned us of this, reminding us what the truth is meant to do for us:
The truth doesn’t restrict us—it liberates us. But if we redefine truth to fit our own desires, we’re no longer living in freedom. We’re living in self-deception.
How Do We Fix This?
So, if we find ourselves drifting into this kind of thinking, how do we course correct?
1. Develop a Conversational Intimacy with Jesus
Jesus is not just the source of truth—He is Truth. When we develop an ongoing dialogue with Him, we invite Him to gently correct our thinking.
A simple prayer like “Jesus, show me where I’m compromising truth” can lead to conviction, clarity, and a renewed mind.
We should ask things like: 🔹 Where have I filed down truth’s sharp edges to fit my desires? 🔹 Where have I allowed culture’s opinions to override God’s Word? 🔹 What lies have I unknowingly embraced?
When we keep these conversations open and honest, Jesus will redirect us back to what is real. He will help us allow the truth to set us free.
2. Immerse Yourself in THE Truth: God’s Word
The best way to recognize a counterfeit truth is to be intimately familiar with the real thing. As Jesus prays for His disciples (and for us):
If we aren’t grounded in God’s Word, we will unintentionally absorb the shifting “truths” of our culture. But when we read scripture daily, it shapes our hearts, minds, and discernment.
Even five minutes a day in the Bible can: 📖 Strengthen our ability to recognize deception. 📖 Remind us that God’s truth is eternal, not circumstantial. 📖 Keep our hearts aligned with what God says, not what culture says.
3. Surround Yourself with People Who Value Truth
We were never meant to figure this out alone. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
When we have truth-seeking friends, mentors, and church communities, we have accountability. They can help us see when we’re drifting and encourage us to stay rooted in God’s truth.
4. Ask God for Boldness
Living by absolute truth in a culture that celebrates relativism isn’t easy. It takes courage to stand firm when the world tells you to compromise.
Truth is worth standing for, even when it’s unpopular.
Conclusion: The Truth Will Set You Free
Pilate stood before the embodiment of truth and still asked, “What is truth?”
How often do we do the same? How often do we look directly at what God has said and still entertain doubt, compromise, or cultural narratives that contradict it?
Truth is not subjective. It’s not something we get to redefine to fit our lives. It is who Jesus is.
So let’s commit to seeking and standing on His truth, even when it challenges us, even when it’s difficult, and even when the world tells us otherwise.
Because truth doesn’t chain us—it sets us free.
💬 Next Steps
🔥 Where have you seen moral relativism creep into our culture? 💬 Have you ever caught yourself rationalizing sin instead of confronting it with truth?
Ashes are a powerful symbol in the Bible and in mythology as well. They represent death, destruction, and loss—ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that—yet they also point to renewal, transformation, and life.
This dual meaning is deeply rooted in both Christian faith and broader cultural imagery. We see it in Ash Wednesday, which we just experienced on the Christian calendar, where ashes symbolize repentance and mortality, and we see it in the phoenix, the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes to begin anew.
But ashes don’t just mark an ending. In God’s capable and creative hands, they can also mark a beginning, something new. New life.
The Biblical Meaning of Ashes
Throughout Scripture, ashes symbolize mourning, humility, and repentance. They remind us of our human frailty and need for God. Here are some examples.
🔹 Ashes and Repentance
In Job 42:6, Job, after encountering God’s greatness, says: “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
In Jonah 3:6, the king of Nineveh covers himself in ashes as a sign of repentance.
🔹 Ashes and Mortality
In Genesis 3:19, after the fall of humanity, God declares: “For dust you are and to dust you will return.”
On Ash Wednesday, those who follow the practice of Christian tradition hear these words as the cross of ashes is placed on their foreheads. Ashes remind us that life is fragile, but our hope is eternal.
🔹 Ashes and Redemption
In Isaiah 61:3, God promises to exchange ashes for beauty, offering joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of despair.
In Revelation 7:3, God marks His faithful ones, reminding us that we belong to Him and are not forgotten.
From Death to Life: The Phoenix and the Resurrection
The phoenix is an ancient mythical bird that burns itself to ashes, only to rise again—stronger, more beautiful, and renewed.
This idea of death leading to new life is not unique to Christianity, but the phoenix legend has striking parallels to the Christian promise of resurrection.
Origins of the Phoenix Legend
The phoenix has roots in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Egyptians believed in a bird called the Bennu, which was associated with the sun god Ra and represented rebirth and immortality.
Greeks and Romans told of a similar bird, the phoenix, which lived for hundreds of years before burning itself up, only to be reborn from the ashes.
This myth has captured the imagination of people across cultures. Many have interpreted it as a metaphor for renewal, endurance, and the cycle of life.
The Phoenix in Modern Culture
If you’ve heard of the phoenix before, it may be from Harry Potter, where Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix, bursts into flames when he grows old and then rises from the ashes as a young bird.
While the phoenix is a legendary creature, its symbolism deeply resonates with Christian themes of death, resurrection, and transformation.
Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, we, too, are invited to die to our old selves and be made new. As Paul the Apostle of Jesus reminds us:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Paul, in Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
Jesus: The True Resurrection
The myth of the phoenix hints at a deeper truth—one that Jesus Himself revealed. The idea that life can come from death, that destruction can lead to something new, is at the very heart of our beliefs as followers of Christ.
Jesus Himself spoke of this paradox:
Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Jesus, in John 12:24 (NIV)
Just like a seed must be buried in the ground to grow, Jesus had to die so that we might have life. And because He rose again, we are promised resurrection, too.
Dust to Ashes: The Journey of Brokenness and Renewal
I realize that in some of the points above, I am equating dust with ashes. How can I do that, you may ask, since ashes and dust are not the same thing? I’m glad you asked! Let me take a moment to make that connection.
1. We Begin as Dust
In Genesis 2:7, we see that God created humanity from dust:
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
Dust represents our origin—we are made from the earth, fragile and dependent on God’s breath for life.
After sin entered the world, dust became a reminder of death and the curse of sin:
For dust you are and to dust you will return.
Genesis 3:19 (NIV)
On Ash Wednesday, we hear these words as the cross of ashes is placed on our foreheads. The dust of creation becomes the ashes of mortality, reminding us that apart from God, we return to nothingness.
Dust is where we begin, but ashes are what remain after destruction. Dust represents potential, but ashes represent what is lost. And yet, God can work with both—He can create life from dust, and He can bring beauty from ashes.
2. We Are Reduced to Ashes
If dust represents our beginning, then ashes represent what happens when things are destroyed.
Ashes are what remain after something is burned away—whether it be a sacrifice, a city, or a life itself.
Throughout Scripture, ashes symbolize mourning, destruction, and repentance:
Ashes remind us that sin leads to ruin. Without God’s mercy, we are nothing more than the remains of what could have been.
But God does not leave us in the ashes.
3. From Ashes to New Life
The incredible promise of redemption is that God does not just leave us as dust or ashes—He transforms us.
“To provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” – Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
What does this mean?
We were dust—but God breathed life into us.
We were reduced to ashes—but God restores what was lost.
We were dead in sin—but in Christ, we are resurrected.
In this way, the dust of creation and the ashes of destruction both point to the same truth:
Without God, we are nothing—but with Him, we are made new.
Apart from God, We Are Just Ashes
Without God, our best efforts are just dust and ashes.
Jesus put it bluntly:
Apart from me, you can do nothing.
Jesus, in John 15:5 (NIV)
If we rely only on ourselves, we remain in a cycle of sin, striving, and spiritual emptiness. We might try to build something meaningful, but without Christ, everything eventually crumbles.
But here’s the good news:
With God, all things are possible.
Jesus, in Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
What is impossible for us—true transformation, real healing, deep renewal—is entirely possible with God.
Keeping God’s Garment On
Last week, I wrote about the parable of the wedding feast and how God provides garments of righteousness for those who enter His kingdom. (If you missed that post, you can read it here).
I realized this week that the ashes of Ash Wednesday also connect to that idea.
When we accept Jesus, we receive a new identity. But sometimes, we’re tempted to take off that garment and put back on the old, filthy rags of self-reliance, doubt, and sin.
For me, this is an ongoing struggle. I grew up valuing self-sufficiency, so my instinct is to try to fix things on my own.
But I’ve learned that when I catch myself doing this, I need to stop and pray a simple prayer:
“Help me, Jesus.”
And sometimes, just as importantly, I thank Him for showing me that I’m doing it again.
Because left to my own strength, I can’t change. But with God, all things are possible.
Conclusion: Rise from the Ashes
The ashes of Ash Wednesday remind us of what we are without God—but they also point us to what we can be with Him.
The Christian journey is one of daily renewal—of continually rising from the ashes, leaving behind what is dead, and stepping into the new, abundant life God offers.
So during this season of Lent, as we head toward Holy Week, ask yourself:
What ashes am I clinging to?
Where do I need God to bring beauty from brokenness?
Am I willing to let go of my own strength and trust in His?
No matter how many times you’ve fallen, God is always ready to lift you up, to give you new life from the ashes you’ve created.
Next Steps
💬 Where have you seen God bring new life from ashes in your own journey? Share in the comments!
If this post encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who needs to hear that God brings beauty from ashes.
If you’re interested in reading previous articles I’ve written about Ash Wednesday, you can find some here:
There’s a parable Jesus tells in Matthew 22:1-14 that has always struck me as a little unsettling. It’s the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. On the surface, it’s a beautiful story about how God invites everyone into His kingdom—first the original guests (symbolizing Israel) and then everyone else, both “good and bad” (representing the Gentiles and sinners who respond to the Gospel).
But then there’s a twist at the end that has always seemed harsh to me. I figured it was probably something that I was missing regarding the historical or cultural context, but I have usually scooted by it in my reads through the Bible, whistling and pretending Jesus wasn’t really telling a story that seemed so cruel.
As the parable goes, a man who accepts the last-minute invitation to the feast is thrown out because he’s not wearing the right clothes. The king calls him out, has him bound hand and foot, and cast into “outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13).
What?? This seems inconsistent with pretty much everything else Jesus teaches us. Love your neighbor as yourself, the last shall be first, and so on.
So, here’s what I’ve always wondered: why would someone get invited, only to be rejected because he didn’t have the right clothes? And not just thrown out of the party—cast into the outer darkness, which sounds like a terrible place! If he was invited in from the streets at the last minute, how was he supposed to have the right attire?
I had no answers to these questions, so I finally decided to dig into it a little deeper, try to understand what Jesus is really saying.
Let me share what I’ve learned.
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14)
Jesus describes a king preparing a wedding feast for his son. The invited guests refuse to come. Some make excuses, while others respond with hostility, even killing the king’s messengers. The king, enraged, destroys the murderers and their city.
Then, he tells his servants to go invite everyone they can find—the good, the bad, the overlooked, and the outsiders. That’s most of us, by the way. As a result of this last-minute slate of invitations, the hall is filled with guests. Everything seems good.
But then we get to the troubling part:
But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Jesus ends the parable with the sobering statement:
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14, NIV)
Again I’ll ask: what??
The Wedding Garment: A Symbol of Righteousness
As I looked into this, I learned that in ancient times, wedding garments weren’t just about fashion. They symbolized honor, purity, and belonging. In many cultures, the host would provide guests with appropriate attire—ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, had the proper clothing for the occasion.
The wedding feast in this parable represents heaven, the Kingdom of God. The king is God, and the wedding feast is for His Son, Jesus. The invited guests (Israel’s religious leaders) reject the invitation, so the offer is extended to all people.
But accepting the invitation isn’t enough. The wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ—something God Himself provides. I suspect that Jesus was thinking of this verse by Isaiah when he told this parable:
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.
In other words, we don’t get to attend the feast on our own terms. We must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, not our own self-righteousness.
The Problem with the Man Without Wedding Clothes
At first glance, it seems unfair to throw the man out. But knowing the cultural context changes everything. If the king provided the garments, then the man deliberately refused to wear what was given to him.
This isn’t about someone who didn’t have access to the right clothes (like I thought it was)—it’s about someone who rejected the king’s provision and tried to enter on his own terms.
This echoes another passage:
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.
God offers us the garment of salvation through Jesus, but we have to put it on. The man in the parable was willing to accept the invitation, but not the transformation.
Self-Righteousness vs. Christ’s Righteousness
Many people want to be part of God’s kingdom, but on their own terms. They don’t want to submit, repent, or change—they just want to show up as they are, without surrendering to Christ.
But Jesus makes it clear that we can’t enter the Kingdom of God clothed in our own goodness, probably thinking of these words from Isaiah:
This parable warns us against casual Christianity—believing that we can accept the invitation but reject the transformation.
Paul reinforces this idea:
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
This isn’t about earning our way into heaven. God provides the garment of salvation—we just have to wear it.
Keeping God’s Garment On
There’s something else to consider here. Once we’ve put on the garment of salvation that God has given us, we need to keep it on.
As someone who was raised to be self-sufficient, I’ve had an ongoing temptation throughout my faith journey to slip out of God’s garment and pull back on my filthy rags of self-righteousness. And from talking to others, I know I’m not alone in this struggle.
We might not say it out loud, but sometimes we act as if we’re trying to earn God’s approval—as if we need to prove we belong at the feast. But Isaiah 64:6 reminds us:
So what do we do when we catch ourselves doing this? How do we keep wearing the righteousness of Christ, instead of reaching for our old self-reliance?
1. Pray in the Moment. When I realize I’ve fallen into this mindset again, I say a quick, simple prayer: “Help me, Jesus.” That’s all it takes to turn my focus back to Him.
2. Give Thanks for Awareness. Instead of being discouraged that I slipped up again, I try to remember to thank God for showing me my mistake. That awareness is grace in itself.
3. Remember That Only God Can Fix This. Left to my own strength, I can’t change myself. But with God, all things are possible.
The key is this: God clothed us in Christ’s righteousness, not so we could take it off and try to earn our way in, but so we can rest in His finished work.
What Does This Mean for Us?
1. Accepting the Invitation Isn’t Enough
Jesus calls everyone, but not everyone is willing to put on Christ’s righteousness. True faith means surrendering our own self-righteousness and fully trusting in Jesus.
2. We Need to Clothe Ourselves in Christ
We don’t get to define what it means to follow Jesus. He has already provided the way—we must put on Christ and walk in His ways.
3. The Kingdom of God Requires a Changed Heart
We can’t just RSVP to God’s invitation and keep living for ourselves. True faith produces transformation—not perfection, but a heart that desires to follow Jesus.
Conclusion: Are You Wearing the Right Clothes?
The next time you read the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, don’t focus only on the man’s rejection. Instead, focus on the generosity of the King—who invited everyone and provided everything they needed.
God offers us the garments of salvation, the righteousness of Christ.
The question is: Are we willing to put them on?And keep them on?
Next Steps
🔹 Have you ever struggled with this parable like I did? What stood out to you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔹 If you’ve been trying to enter God’s kingdom on your own terms, take a moment to surrender and ask Him to clothe you in Christ’s righteousness today. 🔹 Know someone who needs to hear this? Share this post with them!
We serve a God who is limitless, all-powerful, and able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). And yet—if we’re honest—we often shrink Him down to fit inside the confines of our own understanding.
We say we believe that God can do the impossible, but when we face a situation that seems beyond repair, we often act as if His power has limits. We pray small prayers, set low expectations, and assume that God will work only in ways that make sense to us.
But the Bible makes it clear: God is not bound by human logic, resources, or ability.He is the God of the impossible.
“With Man This is Impossible, But…”
One of the clearest declarations of God’s unlimited power comes from Jesus Himself. When His disciples were baffled about who could be saved, Jesus responded:
Jesus wasn’t just talking about salvation—He was establishing a principle that applies to every aspect of life. What seems impossible for us is fully possible for God.
Examples of God’s Limitless Power
Throughout scripture, we see story after story of God shattering human expectations and proving that nothing is impossible for Him.
Abraham and Sarah: A Child in Old Age “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:14 (NIV) Sarah laughed when she heard that she would bear a son in her old age, but God kept His promise, and Isaac was born.
The Parting of the Red Sea When the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, it looked like their story was over. But God made a way where there was no way (Exodus 14:21-22).
The Virgin Birth Mary asked how she could possibly conceive a child as a virgin, and the angel replied: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” – Luke 1:37 (ESV)
Jesus Raising Lazarus Lazarus had been dead for four days—there was no hope in human terms. Yet Jesus declared: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” – John 11:40 (NIV) Moments later, Lazarus walked out of the tomb.
These stories aren’t just ancient miracles; they are proof that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
I’ve experienced miracles in my own life, although not on such a grand scale. To begin with, the fact that I am here, writing encouraging words to others based on my own faith journey is something that would have shocked me if you’d told me in my twenties that I’d be doing this. I had been wallowing in the muck of my own self-sufficiency for the better part of the first half of my life, but thank God that He chipped away at that hardened path and rocky ground, finally turning my heart into fertile soil, ready to receive and live into the grace and salvation He offered me. I’m so grateful that He didn’t give up on me and toss me away like the useless branch I had been.
There have been so many other examples for me as well, times in my life when God found a way when I was beginning to doubt there was a way forward. He has blessed my marriage, carried us through many challenging times. Also, we struggled to get pregnant when we first started trying to have children, but He blessed us with three children we deeply love. Throughout my career, when I’ve reached dead ends, God has shown me paths I couldn’t see or imagine, all of which were better than the solutions I had been struggling to achieve.
How Do We “Box God In”?
Yet, even though we know these Biblical stories and have examples of our own, we still tend to limit God in our lives. We do this in different ways:
✅ Through our expectations – We assume God will work in a way that fits our limited understanding. ✅ Through our fear – We hesitate to trust Him when things seem uncertain. ✅ Through our prayers – We pray for what seems reasonable instead of asking for what seems impossible. ✅ Through our doubt – We believe in God’s power in theory, but struggle to believe He’ll actually show up in our situation.
“It is even possible that the prayers which doubt and yet ask may, at any rate sometimes, be more pleasing to God than the halting and hesitant prayers which presuppose a cheap omnipotence in God and demand that He do, not what He wills, but what we want.”
C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
Sometimes, we pray with a limited view of God, asking for things we think are possible rather than trusting Him for what seems impossible. But God’s power isn’t cheap or constrained by our imagination. What if we started praying bigger, bolder prayers, trusting that God’s will is greater than what we can see?
Here are some thoughts about practical steps we can take to release God from the boxes we have put Him in:
Pray Bigger Prayers. Instead of asking God for what’s “reasonable,” ask Him for what seems impossible. He delights in showing His power.
Surrender Control. When we let go of the need to understand or dictate how God should move, we give Him room to work.
Expect the Unexpected. Trust that God will provide solutions in ways you never imagined.
Stand on His Promises. When doubt creeps in, remember that God has been faithful before, and He will be faithful again.
Take a Step of Faith. Sometimes, God is waiting for us to move before He reveals His power (like Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:29).
Conclusion: Break the Limits
God doesn’t belong in a box. He is bigger than our fears, greater than our limitations, and more powerful than anything we can comprehend.
So, what impossible situation are you facing today? What dream feels out of reach? What burden seems too heavy?
Let this be your reminder: God is not bound by what you can see or even imagine. He specializes in impossible.
Here’s my challenge to you this week: Trust Him. Believe bigger. Pray outrageous prayers. Let God out of the box you’ve created for Him.
What miracles have you experienced in your own life? Was there a time when God burst out of the box you created for Him, when He exceeded even your wildest hopes or expectations? I’d love to hear your story! Share in the comments below how you’ve experienced God’s limitless power.
I’ve mentioned previously how much I enjoy and am intrigued by the streaming TV show, “The Chosen.” Since it seems to me to stay very close to Scripture, I really like the way it gives the people in the Bible stories skin and faces. I’ve read through and listened to the Bible countless times, and while doing so, of course I always try to picture the narration in my mind, but due to the cultural differences, it’s often challenging to place myself in the middle of the stories. However, Dallas Jenkins and the other people behind the series have done a masterful job of enabling us to do just that.
Even beyond that, they have filled in a lot of backstory for many of the main characters and have also filled in some story gaps. For the most part, I think the way they’ve done this seems plausible and consistent with the portions of the stories and characters’ backstories that are actually in the Bible.
Each time they have been ready to release a new season, I’ve gone back to watch all of the prior seasons. Since they are getting close to releasing season 5, I started again with season 1, episode 1. Adding to my enjoyment of this show this time around is the fact that my wife is watching it with me, since we’re doing a Bible study based on the series with our church group. I’ve enjoyed more meaningful conversations with her about our faith and about Jesus than I think we’ve had in the whole rest of our marriage. So, that’s another big bonus in my mind about watching “The Chosen”.
Anyway, the point of saying all this is that this show has enabled me to really see the main characters in the New Testament stories involving Jesus as real people. It has allowed me to put myself in their shoes. In the inaugural episode, when Jesus touches Mary Magdalene’s face and tells her, “I have called you by name. You are mine,” I could picture Him standing in front of me and repeating those same words. When Jesus calls Peter to follow Him after filling his boat with fish, I can sympathize with Peter’s sense of unworthiness and amazement that God would want him on His team. And when Jesus reveals who He is to the Samaritan woman, a broken person who has struggled to find acceptance, I feel her excitement and gratitude that the Messiah chose to sit and speak with her, of all people.
So Then There’s Nicodemus
Nicodemus is one of the most fascinating figures in the Gospel of John. Honestly, I’ve never known quite what to make of him. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? A Pharisee and a respected member of the Sanhedrin, he had power, influence, and deep religious knowledge. He was a prototypical religious leader, the only type of person who triggered anger in Jesus. Yet, he was a little different from other religious leaders. Despite his status and position, something about Jesus compelled him to seek real answers, to find the Truth.
Many of us know Nicodemus as the man who came to Jesus at night, asking about being “born again.” But did he ever truly believe? Did he move beyond curiosity and step fully into faith?
If we follow Nicodemus’ journey through the Gospel of John, and especially if we watch his character arc in “The Chosen”, we see a progression—one that mirrors the spiritual journey of many believers today. His story reminds us that faith often grows in stages, moving from curiosity to questioning, to courageous action. And it shows us yet again that there are no limits to who can become a follower of Christ or who God can use to advance His Kingdom here on earth.
A Curious Seeker (John 3:1–21)
Nicodemus first appears in John 3, approaching Jesus under the cover of night. The fact that he came at night suggests hesitation—perhaps he feared the judgment of his fellow Pharisees. Yet, his words show genuine interest:
Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.
But Jesus was speaking of spiritual rebirth, of transformation through the Holy Spirit.
This moment is crucial because it shows that faith often begins with curiosity and confusion. Many of us have been in Nicodemus’ shoes—seeking, but struggling to understand. Yet, Jesus met Nicodemus where he was and patiently guided him toward Truth.
At this stage, Nicodemus left the conversation without a clear confession of faith. He wasn’t ready yet. But his journey wasn’t over.
A Defender of Justice (John 7:50–52)
The next time we see Nicodemus, he is in a tense confrontation with the other Pharisees. By this time, Jesus had become a polarizing figure, and many of the religious leaders were plotting against Him.
In John 7:50–52, Nicodemus shuffled out onto a limb a little bit, speaking up in defense of Jesus:
Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?
His question was subtle, but it was a significant shift. He wasn’t openly declaring himself a follower of Jesus, but he was challenging the unfair judgment of the Pharisees.
Their response was dismissive:
Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.
This moment shows us something important: Nicodemus was wrestling with the Truth. He wasn’t ready to fully declare his faith, but he also wasn’t willing to let injustice go unchecked. He was moving from private curiosity to public questioning.
A Bold Follower (John 19:38–42)
The final time Nicodemus appears in scripture is after Jesus’ crucifixion. By now, most of Jesus’ disciples had fled in fear. Yet, Nicodemus did something extraordinary.
Along with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus took Jesus’ body and prepared it for burial.
He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
This was not a small gesture. The amount of burial spices Nicodemus brought was extravagant—something typically reserved for royalty. This act was costly, both financially and socially. Publicly associating with Jesus, especially after His death, was dangerous.
This was not the act of a man who was undecided. This was an act of devotion.
What Can We Learn from Nicodemus?
Nicodemus’ story is not just about his faith—it’s about our faith, too. His journey shows us that:
Faith is a process – Nicodemus moved from curiosity to cautious questioning to bold action. Many of us don’t have an instant transformation, but rather a gradual deepening of belief.
Jesus meets us where we are – Nicodemus snuck in to meet Jesus to ask Him questions, and Jesus didn’t push him away. He answered with patience and truth.
True faith leads to action – Nicodemus eventually took a stand, risking everything to honor Jesus.
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, Jesus wants to be in a relationship with you – Nicodemus was effectively part of the governing body of religious leaders who had Jesus executed. Jesus knew this would be the case, yet He still spoke with Nicodemus, tried to soften his heart and help him see the Truth.
So Was He or Wasn’t He?
We don’t know what happened to Nicodemus after the moment when Nicodemus took his bold step of faith, but some early Christian traditions say he was later expelled from the Sanhedrin and persecuted for his faith in Jesus. Whether that’s true or not, his final recorded act in scripture suggests he had become a true follower of Christ.
Conclusion: A Question for Us
So, did Nicodemus believe in Jesus? I believe the answer is yes.
But perhaps the more important question for us today is this: Where are you in your faith journey?
Are you a seeker, like Nicodemus in John 3—curious, but hesitant? Are you a questioner, like Nicodemus in John 7—starting to wrestle with the Truth, even if it’s costly? Or are you a bold follower, like Nicodemus in John 19—willing to take risks to honor Jesus?
No matter where you are, Jesus meets you there. Like Nicodemus, you don’t have to have all the answers right away. It’s OK if it doesn’t all make sense. The important thing is to keep seeking, keep asking, and when the time comes—step forward in faith.
Where do you see yourself in Nicodemus’ journey? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Have you ever read something in the Bible that made you pause—not because it confused you, but because it unsettled you?
For me, one of those passages is Philippians 1:21-23, where Paul writes:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
I’ve struggled with this passage each time I’ve read through the Bible. It’s one of those moments where I’ve wanted to scoot past it, not dwell on it, and move on to something that doesn’t make me as uncomfortable. But for some reason, when I read this passage this week, I was inspired to dig into it instead of whistling while I walk past it, pretending it doesn’t exist.
So, Here We Go
Is Paul really saying that dying is better than living—that leaving this life and being with Christ is not just preferable, but better by far?
Yes, I think that’s exactly what he’s saying.
But is it just a pious statement, the kind of thing a super-spiritual person says to sound impressive? Or does Paul actually believe this?
I think it’s the latter. And if Paul truly feels this way, we need to ask why.
Did Paul Really Mean It?
Everything in Paul’s letters suggests that he wasn’t exaggerating. This wasn’t an empty religious phrase—it was the deep conviction of a man whose entire life was centered on Jesus.
Paul’s perspective wasn’t unique among early Christians. We see echoes of this longing in other scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:8 – “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Revelation 21:3-4 – “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people… There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
John 14:2-3 – Jesus Himself promised: “I am going to prepare a place for you… that you also may be where I am.”
Paul longed for heaven because he had seen glimpses of it. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, he describes an experience—possibly a vision, possibly a near-death event—where he was “caught up to paradise” and saw things too glorious to even put into words.
So Paul wasn’t just speculating when he said being with Christ is “better by far.” He had seen it. And nothing in this world could compare.
Why Long for Heaven?
If Paul is right—if to die is gain—why don’t we feel the same way? Why do most of us cling to life with everything we have?
In his book Weight of Glory, atheist-turned-Christian author C.S. Lewis offers a compelling explanation:
“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
— C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
We are too easily satisfied with what this world offers, failing to grasp the incomparable beauty and shalom (wholeness and peace) that await us in eternity.
Paul understood something that we often forget: this world, no matter how good, is not home. And we’re not home yet.
Jesus Himself prepared His disciples for this truth:
Our lives here are filled with beauty and purpose, but they are also filled with pain, struggle, and limitations. Heaven, on the other hand, is life as it was meant to be—free from sorrow, sin, and separation from God. (Here’s a little side joke for Super Bowl Sunday: Why won’t there be any sports in heaven? Because there won’t be any referees or umpires.)
Anyway, should we interpret Paul’s statement in Philippians to mean that he was suicidal? I really don’t think so. He wasn’t dismissing the value of life on earth. He simply understood something we struggle to accept:
Our best day here is nothing compared to our first day there.
But Until Then…
Paul knew that while heaven was his ultimate destination, he still had work to do here.
But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.
Paul didn’t see life as something to endure while waiting for heaven. He saw it as an opportunity to bring others into that same eternal joy.
He lived with a dual perspective—one eye on eternity, the other on his mission here.
That’s the balance we should seek, too.
Conclusion: A Life Worth Living, A Death Worth Hoping For
So, live or die?
Paul’s answer is both. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. We don’t need to fear death, because our future is beyond anything we can imagine.
But until that day, we have a purpose. We live for Christ—not merely waiting for heaven, but bringing the hope of heaven to those around us.
The next time you read Philippians 1:21, don’t scoot past it. Sit with it. Let it challenge you.
Do you long for heaven, or are you still too satisfied with the mud pies of this world?
And if heaven is really “better by far,” what does that mean for how you live today?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment and let me know.
P.S. I’ve had people ask me something like this: “Heaven sounds wonderful, but how do I know if I will get there?” In each case, knowing that they are followers of Christ, I said that their future in heaven is guaranteed, not because of anything they did other than accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It’s as simple (and challenging!) as that. So, if you haven’t done that yet, then I invite you to make that commitment in your heart. Jesus will know you did that, but it would also be good to say something like this to him out loud: “Jesus, today I invite you into my life and into my heart as Lord and Savior of my life. I give as much as I know of myself to as much as I understand about You.” If you do that, I’d suggest you find a strong body of believers to connect with and help you along on this amazing journey of following Christ.
Or, if you’ve accepted Christ but know someone who would benefit from this perspective shift from mud pies to a vacation at the beach, feel free to share this blog with them.
Master's Canvas - Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter 