Genesis-163 – Jacob’s Exodus

Genesis 50:7–14

 

“So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the officials of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation, and he observed a period of mourning for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, ‘This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.’ Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.” Amen.

 

The Right Attitude of Believers Facing Sorrow

The passage we encounter today records in detail how, after the death of Jacob, Joseph and his brothers journeyed to the land of Canaan to conduct the funeral. The account of Jacob's testament and death, which we shared last week, forms a pair with today’s text, marking a grand finale of faith.

 

Meditating on today’s passage, I find myself reconsidering the attitude we Christians should have toward the emotion of "sorrow." In the church today, sorrow is sometimes perceived in an excessively negative light. Especially at the threshold of death, when someone is grieving deeply or struggling after losing a loved one, some may view such behavior as inappropriate for a person of faith.

 

While such words often stem from a heart of comfort, we frequently offer advice like, "Stop grieving now," or "Let us overcome this with faith." These are certainly exhortations filled with sincere care and love. However, we must seriously ask ourselves: If one truly has faith, must they overcome the pain of loss more quickly than others? Does deeper faith require one to dry their tears of sorrow sooner and regain a smile?

 

To answer these questions, we must remember that we need a deeper understanding of the essence of the life of faith and the way God handles human emotions.

 

God's Mysterious Restoration for Each Individual

The process by which God deals with a soul and restores their heart—sometimes enabling them to overcome sorrow or surpass adversity—certainly occurs within the principles of God's Word. The command to "Rejoice always" is a vital principle of our faith. However, when this Word is realized in the specific lives of individuals, the manner in which it happens is truly mysterious and diverse. No two people walk the exact same path.

 

Therefore, we must be cautious when advising others based on our own experiences. A testimony of how God helped us through similar hardships is certainly a comfort and encouragement. Yet, my experience cannot become an absolute standard for measuring another's faith. The hand of God, as He cares for, guides, and leads each person, is not just different; it is so mysterious that we cannot fully fathom it.

 

Some may slowly overcome sorrow and pain through a long, five- or six-year journey of endurance, while others may see the light of restoration in a relatively short time. What is essential here is not the length of time restoration takes. Nor is it a matter of the methodology used for healing. The truly important fact is that God Himself walked with them throughout that entire time and process.

 

Dear saints, no matter how deep the sorrow we experience now, on the day we reach the Lord’s side, we will all enjoy unspeakable joy. Though the moment we leave this earth in the flesh may be difficult, the moment we are held in the Lord’s arms, we enter eternal rest. Furthermore, some may be suffering because they are displeased with their own inadequacies. I, too, often reproach myself. However, on the day we stand before the Lord, we will be transformed into the most glorious beings He has fashioned.

 

We are those who will inherit the glory of God and the wonderful blessings He has prepared. In other words, no matter how vast our current sorrow may be, we are beings destined to eventually enter the ocean of eternal joy.

 

The Path of the Church Walking Together in Patience Through Suffering

Can we discuss the depth of faith using the duration of sorrow as a yardstick? We certainly cannot. God sometimes humbles a person's life for their entire duration in ways we cannot fully understand. Consider Fanny Crosby, the author of the hymn we will sing at the end of today's service. After losing her sight in a childhood accident, she had to live in darkness for nearly a hundred years. Yet, how God restored and healed her through those long years of endurance, and how He kept her within His will, is a sacred realm that no one can easily judge.

 

Therefore, we must not attempt to measure the lives of others by our own religious experiences or subjective standards derived from them. Rather, as the Bible teaches, we should observe how God's patience and love are projected through the person suffering. The essence is to remain by their side until the end, anticipating how we should accept them and how God will renew them and set them upright. This is the correct attitude we should maintain as saints and God's people. Of course, this is by no means an easy task.

 

Numerous spiritual elements are intertwined in that process. God’s Word sets us right, and at times, it sternly rebukes and renews us. Sometimes He uses brothers and sisters as channels to turn us back to the right path, and at other times, He pours out profound, indescribable comfort. When all these things happen organically within the Word of God, we are gradually fashioned into the image of "children of God," which is the Lord's goal for us.

 

Is this not the greatest meaning and supreme joy of believing in Jesus? What other being in the world promises, "You will eventually resemble Jesus Christ," and stays with you until the end instead of letting you walk that path alone? Where else is there a God who leads us to the end of that path—sometimes through discipline, sometimes through ecstasy, sometimes with unspeakable comfort, and even by weeping and laughing with us?

 

The God we believe in is not one who unilaterally demands only unconditional sacrifice, service, and worship. As we have learned while meditating on worship, the principle of grace—that God first serves us—is embedded at the foundation of the word "worship." That faithful God is walking this path of faith with us even now.

 

God's Love and Promise in Serving Us

God is not one who merely demands, "Worship Me and give Me all praise." Rather, He is the one who says, "I will serve you." This is a truly wondrous declaration, something only God can do. The Lord, who humbled Himself and took the form of a servant for our sake—this is grace that only the Triune God can bestow. It is a love that no false god or idol of this world could ever imitate, a mystery shown only by the Lord who came for us. This marvelous thing has already happened in your lives.

 

Though we will examine through today's text how we should handle this grace, before that, we may freely rejoice in this fact. What promise could provide greater strength for living in this world? There is no promise more glorious than the assurance that the destination of my life will ultimately be to resemble Christ.

 

Are you perhaps thinking to yourself, 'Could I really resemble Jesus? That must be a symbolic statement'? In a moment, we will read the scriptures together to see if our assumptions are correct or if God's Word is the truth.

 

Empathy in Sorrow: The Beginning of Mature Faith

When facing sorrow, the Bible first exhorts us to "weep with those who weep." In our desire to comfort others, we often try to present the "correct" answers. We feel compelled to say, "Stop grieving now," or "It’s okay because the Lord is with you." Certainly, firm faith gives us answers and makes such confessions of faith possible. However, mature faith simultaneously entails the ability to deeply empathize with the pain of others. We must begin with that very empathy.

 

Although it sounds easy in words, it is a truly difficult thing to do. I also resolve to "do so" when sharing the Word, but in actual situations, I make mistakes. When we meet someone who has returned to church after a long time or has come back from a long journey, what is the common greeting we offer? It is, "It's been a long time; how did you manage to come?" From the speaker's perspective, it is a greeting filled with interest and care. However, from the listener's perspective, it could lead to the misunderstanding: "Is my coming not welcomed? Have I come to a place I shouldn't be?"

 

The speaker's intention may be good, but the listener's heart may feel differently. Therefore, we must be even more meticulous in our consideration, and rather than hastily offering answers for comfort, we must stand in the place of silently weeping together.

 

True Empathy and Faith That Shares Sorrow

I also frequently commit such mistakes. Sometimes, in my gladness, I greet someone by saying, "It's been so long I almost forgot your face," but looking back, this too may not be a pleasant expression for the listener.

 

How much better it would have been if I had conveyed the sincerity in my heart exactly as it was: "I am truly glad to see you. I have missed you very much." If we had spoken so honestly, our hearts would have been conveyed much more warmly, yet we often express our feelings indirectly simply because it feels unfamiliar. Consequently, the sincerity we need to convey often fails to reach them fully.

 

Beloved saints, shouldn't the precious biblical principles of weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice be restored in our lives first? I deeply reflect on the fact that the act of comforting one another must not end in formality but must become a reality.

 

Of course, a believer cannot live submerged only in sorrow. At the same time, however, we sometimes try to move past the pain of loss and deep anguish too easily, or we urge others to forget quickly. If we consider God's will in commanding us to "sorrow together and suffer together," we must stay by our neighbor's side longer and walk with them for their restoration. We desperately need the heart that says, "Just as God is with them, I will also be with them until the end."

 

The Time of Faith to Fully Confront Sorrow

Faith is certainly the dynamic that allows us to overcome sorrow, but it also serves as a channel to empathize with the deep loss of others. Look at Joseph in today’s text. He wept with his brothers.

 

Joseph mourned for a full 70 days. Including the 40 days for the embalming process, they poured out their sorrow for exactly 70 days. Adding the two to three weeks it took to travel from Egypt to Canaan, more than two months had already passed. Even after arriving at the burial site, they lamented bitterly and wept again for seven days on the other side of the Jordan. By modern standards, this is a long period of over three months. From a contemporary perspective, one might wonder, "How can someone grieve for such a long time?" yet they did so willingly.

 

This reminds us that a time to fully express sorrow, without forcibly suppressing it, is necessary. The patient process of sharing deep pain with family and loved ones given by God and enduring that agony together is the true form of mourning shown in the Bible.

 

The Community of Faith Sharing the Pain of Loss

I am not telling you that funeral procedures must be made arbitrarily long. I am simply reflecting on whether we might be treating the sorrow of others too lightly or dismissing it as something that must be moved past quickly. Our pain exists as a reality in itself and is truly painful.

 

We face different sorrows and pains within various circumstances of life. At that time, what we need first is an attitude of acknowledging the pain as it is, saying, "This is a truly painful thing." We desperately need a heart that first considers, "How sad would I be if such a thing happened to me?" and weeps and suffers together rather than presenting a religious "correct answer." Joseph, his brothers, and their Egyptian colleagues willingly shared that time of sorrow. How much comfort and strength that must have provided to those left behind!

 

Jacob’s Exodus: A Holy Ascent Toward the Promised Land

Along with this theme of "sorrow," the most crucial expression to note in today's text is the word "go up," which I mentioned last week. You likely noticed this recurring expression as you read the text. The Hebrew word for "go up" is alah. Just as the smoke of a burnt offering ascends toward heaven, this word signifies a holy ascent from a lower place to a higher one.

 

Here, "going up" goes beyond the geographical movement from Egypt to Canaan; it is the language of the "Exodus" that penetrates the entire Bible. In other words, the core of today’s text does not lie simply in the funeral procession moving a body. If only the physical location mattered, there would have been no reason for Jacob to make such a cumbersome request.

 

Jacob knew clearly. He was certain that the moment he shed his physical tent, his soul would enjoy eternal rest with his ancestors by God’s side. Nevertheless, his earnest plea to "bury my body in the land of Canaan" carries a profoundly symbolic meaning. It is a religious declaration intended to point his descendants toward something and to powerfully assure them.

 

The substance of that declaration is the hope that "you too will soon go to that promised land." This is why we call Jacob’s funeral procession "Jacob’s Exodus." We already know the event where Abraham went down to Egypt and then came back up. Now, through Jacob’s final journey, God is showing even more clearly the shadow of the covenant—that He will surely lead His people out of the bondage of Egypt.

 

Jacob’s Exodus Beholding God’s Promise

Let’s look more closely at this "Jacob’s Exodus" containing God’s covenant. Ancient Egypt had a unique way of treating the dead—the mummies we often encounter in museums. While we admire the technology of the time when looking at exquisitely preserved mummies, being made into a mummy in Egypt actually signified that one belonged to the highest class. it was a privilege only those with immense wealth and power could enjoy.

 

Common people used methods such as washing the body and drying it in the sun or pickling it in salt. Since these methods are only known through records and no physical specimens remain, the permanently preserved mummies leave a stronger impression on us. Ultimately, the act of making a mummy symbolized the wealth, power, and religious status of the family.

 

At that time, Egyptians worshipped Osiris, the god who presided over life and death. According to their view of the afterlife, the soul would face numerous adversities during its journey to the eternal world, and they believed the soul could only return without getting lost if the physical form, the mummy, was perfectly preserved. Because they regarded the body as the eternal home where the soul resides, they considered it extremely important to preserve the mummy without damage.

 

Then why did Joseph make his father Jacob into a mummy? What was Joseph trusting in? Did Joseph choose this method to flaunt his social influence and wealth? Or was it the result of Joseph becoming secularized, abandoning his faith, and uncritically accepting the pagan religious customs of Egypt?

 

However, looking at the flow of the entire Bible, Joseph never once bowed to the idols of Egypt or followed their faith. Thus, this event contains the exact opposite spiritual message. At the time, the mummy was the ultimate symbol that integrated Egypt's greatest medical skills, cultural achievements, and their religious aspirations for eternal life.

 

Faith’s Purpose Beyond Worldly Values

Treating Jacob as a mummy was by no means intended to grant him secular power or to boast about how great a figure Joseph's father was. In fact, as mentioned before, it contained the exact opposite proclamation to the world.

 

What did that culmination of Egypt’s most-prized technology, culture, and religious significance mean to Joseph? It held no value beyond simply preserving Jacob's remains until they reached Canaan. In other words, all of Egypt's knowledge, wealth, and brilliant civilization were merely technical means to enter the promised land of Canaan. From Joseph's perspective, all the glory of Egypt was nothing more and nothing less than a "preservative" to aid the journey toward the promised land.

 

Everyone, think about the purpose of a preservative. When we buy bread or crackers, we see a small packet of preservative or desiccant inside. Why is it kept separately rather than mixed directly into the food? It is solely to preserve the food intact. That is why the packet always has a warning: "Do not eat."

 

But what would you do if a child tore open the packaging, set aside the bread they were supposed to eat, and tried to tear open and eat the preservative packet? You would likely be shocked and stop them, saying, "Child, you don't eat that!" Unfortunately, we often forget that we repeat similar foolish things while living in this world.

 

God has granted us many things in this world for the sake of His kingdom and His holy work. Materials, status, and worldly resources are a kind of "desiccant" or "preservative" given to preserve and reveal the glory of God. But are you perhaps living a life where the priorities are reversed? Are you failing to taste the blessings and holiness of the eternal kingdom God has prepared, and instead putting the temporary desiccant in your mouth, saying, "This is the best; this is the most delicious food of my life"?

 

The Resplendent Journey Toward the Promised Land, Canaan

When we witness the numerous benefits, top-tier technology, and mighty power offered to us by this world—that is, Egypt—we are easily swayed. We know in our heads that God is good and faith is precious. However, in a corner of our hearts, we might be whispering, "Still, nothing is as certain as money or success." Though we may not dare to say it out loud, our lives are often more focused on collecting preservatives and desiccants rather than eternal food, forgetting the promised land God truly intends to give us.

 

Joseph is proclaiming values exactly opposite to the world at that very point. He is saying that all the glory of Egypt, even the greatest achievements the world can offer, are merely desiccants and preservatives allowed temporarily to move toward the land God promised. Our gaze should not rest on the worldly means, but on God's promise. To convey this message, God shows us a very important spiritual lesson through Joseph's journey.

 

Look at Jacob’s funeral procession. it is truly magnificent. All the elders and high officials of Egypt accompanied them, and it was a dignified procession escorted by an army, with chariots and horsemen mobilized. At the end, the Bible describes this procession as a "very great company." Truly, a massive crowd set out for the funeral.

 

However, we must not be so fascinated by this splendor that we miss what is truly important: the "route" this funeral procession took. If Joseph had wanted to flaunt his power, what path would he have chosen? He would have taken the smooth route from Egypt through Kadesh Barnea or along the coastal road to enter Canaan directly. If he had gone straight to Hebron that way, he would have encountered the Canaanite tribes at every turn.

 

Had they passed that way, people of the world would have said, "As expected of the Prime Minister of Egypt, Joseph's power is indeed great. How has Jacob, who stayed with us as a stranger, returned with such great success!" They would have marveled only at the outward appearance, decorated by the grand funeral procession even in death. This is because, in the eyes of the world, that splendor would have seemed like evidence of success.

 

Leaving Worldly Glory Behind for the Promised Land

From the world's perspective, Joseph should have rightfully chosen the most magnificent path. However, the Bible records that Joseph's funeral procession detoured to the other side of the Jordan. This route is very familiar to us. It is the exact path the Israelites would later take to enter Canaan at the end of their Exodus journey. Joseph is now walking that symbolic path in advance—the one they ended up taking after 40 years of wandering due to unbelief after sending spies from Kadesh Barnea.

 

This shows that Joseph did not seek to flaunt the success he achieved in Egypt or the splendor of the funeral procession. Joseph’s focus was not on the power he enjoyed, but on the fact that we are now heading toward the land of Canaan, where God's promise rests. By choosing a roundabout way instead of the straightest path, he is eloquently demonstrating with his whole body that this journey foreshadows the "fulfillment of the covenant" the Israelites would eventually walk. Furthermore, upon reaching that place, they lamented bitterly for seven days, deepening the depth of their sorrow.

 

In the end, it was not the Egyptian army but only Joseph and his brothers who entered the cave of Machpelah. How dignified Joseph would have looked if he had entered at the head of the Egyptian army! He could have made a triumphant return, shouting, "You looked down on us as wanderers without a single plot of land, but look now! The army of Egypt is escorting us." However, Joseph kept all the power of the world at the border and upheld the principle of faith that only the promised descendants called by God enter the holy land.

 

Because the Egyptians who came along also lamented greatly there, the name of the place was called "Abel-mizraim," meaning "the great mourning of the Egyptians." But the role of the Egyptians ended there. Though they accompanied in sorrow, they could not participate in the glory of entering the cave of Machpelah, the core of the covenant. Only Joseph and his family participated in that holy rest.

 

The magnificent funeral procession certainly made it look as if Egypt were the center of the world. Rather than Joseph's intention, it likely contained the political intent of Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, to exalt his own name and announce to the world how great Joseph's family was. However, Joseph left all that worldly glory behind and silently walked the path of the covenant, looking only at God's promise.

 

A Person of the Promise Fashioned by God's Grace

Joseph possessed dazzling power, fame, and immense wealth, yet he treated all of them merely as "preservatives" or "desiccants." His true interest did not lie in the magnificent courts of Egypt, but remained solely in the land of Canaan promised by God. Just as a preservative exists to preserve the food itself, the time, material wealth, health, and the countless gifts and blessings we never imagined—which God has allowed us while placing us on this earth—are not ends in themselves.

 

All the resources of this world are tools to preserve and train us, ultimately leading us to inherit God's precious Word of promise. It is God's consideration to make you realize that you are a "person of the promise" and to confirm that God's Word will surely be fulfilled through your life.

 

God mobilizes everything in the world to establish you as His person. Why did He make the stars that adorn the night sky so beautiful, and why does He fashion the mysterious dawn and evening glow we face every day? It is to show that He loves you and me so much and is constantly working for us. All that beauty is a channel for us to taste the wonders of the kingdom of God and to hope for and enjoy the eternal kingdom.

 

Glorious Beings with Heavenly Citizenship

Now we face the final scene of this journey. Following their father's testament, Joseph and his brothers left the Egyptian procession behind, and they alone entered the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan. This proves that Jacob was not a person belonging to Egypt, but one belonging to Canaan. To put it in our terms, it is a declaration that he was not a being belonging to this earth, but a person belonging to heaven.

 

Philippians Chapter 3 records God's great promise toward us. I hope you receive this Word not merely as a good passage, but as God's solemn promise defining your existence.

 

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

 

The Bible clearly testifies. The Lord will transform our humble and lowly bodies into a form like His own glorious body. This is the hope Jacob dignifiedly looked upon even in the face of death, and it is the only strength by which we can overcome this harsh world today.

 

The Hope of Heavenly Citizenship and Cladding in a Glorious Body

Dear saints, many among us lead a life of faith with this resolve within God: "Now that I believe in Jesus, I should live like a person who believes in Jesus." With that determination, we work tirelessly to become better believers. We want to achieve a level that is personally satisfying or possess a better appearance of faith that can be recognized by others.

 

This attitude is by no means bad. However, think deeply for a moment. People of the world also live intensely, developing themselves in their respective fields. Because they hate falling behind anyone and want to be recognized, they strive to become better, more decent people. They devote their time to study and discipline themselves to become excellent human beings who possess not only intelligence but also character. If so, how is our effort different from theirs? Are we merely setting the goal as "Jesus" and working hard in the church?

 

Does the Bible say only that? Today's verse might sound shocking to you. The Bible declares this: "I will not only bring you to the place of the eternal glorious body, but I will bring you from glory to glory." This is a promise also recorded in 1 Corinthians 15. It means that not only will the outward appearance of the body change, but your existence itself will be brought into glory. This is the core of Christianity, the "Doctrine of Glory."

 

On the day you and I depart this world, we will not only put on mysterious glorious bodies but also participate in the brilliant glory of Christ. Having heard this far, you should rightfully ask this question: "If I am going to be transformed so perfectly later anyway, is there any need to strive so hard on this earth? Is there no reason to try to be good here?"

 

Only when this question bursts forth do you begin to properly understand God's grace. You should wonder, "If God is going to change me into such a position of wonderful glory one day anyway, why do I live here with such difficult restraint? Can't I just live as I please and then 'Ta-da!' be transformed on that day?"

 

A Calling to a Life of Loving the Lord

Beloved saints, there is a truth we must realize. God's purpose in dealing with us does not stop at simply making us morally excellent and "decent human beings." Within us lurks a persistent self-centeredness that is hard to shake off. Even excellent believers sometimes fall into this trap: the desire that "I want to have a better faith than others." While I understand that pure motive, there is a risk of becoming immersed in "me with good faith." If God's glory is not the purpose, but rather being satisfied with my appearance as a possessor of a fine faith, comparing myself with others or feeling proud of myself, that is not the essence of faith.

 

Who would dare say to those who are living a life of faith diligently that they are wrong? However, this can become a spiritual trap. The Bible declares that glorious transformation, which we must strive for and gain, is a "gift God gives freely." Therefore, what we should truly pursue on this earth is not the achievement of faith for self-satisfaction. We must consider what God truly wants from us.

 

Recall the heart of a parent raising a child. What do you want for your child? Do you want your child to simply become "excellent" mechanically? No. A parent wants to give the child the best they can offer. If so, what is the best thing that the perfect God can give us, the supreme blessing that cannot be compared? It is "God Himself." God wants to come into the journey of our lives, walk with us, and have us know Him deeply.

 

The confession we must realize through our life on this earth is clear: the fact that my life is not lived by my own strength. It is admitting that I cannot help but be weak and that I can never reach God's righteousness by my own power. While we may look slightly more moral and perfect when comparing ourselves with other people, we must stand in the place of desperately confessing that we have nothing to boast of before the holy God.

 

At that time, we finally discover the Lord who looks upon us with favor and accompanies us. Although we cannot help but constantly despair over our own weakness, a life that gains new strength only through Jesus Christ, a life lived by trusting entirely in the Christ who holds us—we call this in one word: "a life of loving the Lord." We are beings called to love that very Lord.

 

The Help of the Holy Spirit and the Fellowship of Love

Beloved saints, you and I were called for a burning love toward the Lord. If you feel skeptical, wondering, 'Is there any passion left in me to love someone again?' I want to tell you that it is absolutely not so. Within you is a holy flame lit by the Holy Spirit. Especially to the senior deaconesses who have endured the harsh storms of life—I am certain that the spark of that love is still alive in your hearts. Is not that heart, which weeps and laughs while watching a drama and empathizes with the pain and joy of others, evidence that the dynamics of love are alive within you?

 

That flame of the Holy Spirit causes us to constantly look toward the cross. It fashions us into the image of Jesus Christ and breathes into us the will to live according to the Word that pleases the Lord. The Holy Spirit whispers to us: "Do not live to prove yourself, but live as one who loves the Lord." Thus, He invites us into that glorious and intimate fellowship of love enjoyed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Receiving comfort and gaining strength within that abundant love and walking with the Lord is the form of life God wants most from us.

 

A life of drawing closer to the Lord is a life of passionately loving the Lord. The more we love the Lord, living according to God's Word is no longer a heavy yoke, but becomes a supreme joy. Recall the feeling of romance. The only reason one does not mind any labor for a loved one is "love." When love for the Lord becomes the dynamic of our lives, following the Lord's law becomes the most valuable and beautiful thing.

 

Faith is not a process of proving my perfection. Rather, it is confessing my thorough weakness and relying even more earnestly on the Lord; that is the life of true faith. We often judge people by looking at their innate environment or personality, defining them by saying, "That person is well-off, so their personality is smooth," or "They suffered a lot, so they are sensitive." However, God's grace transcends such human conditions and circumstances, fashioning us into entirely new beings.

 

The Path of True Faith Relying Only on the Lord

We often misunderstand that childhood pain or environment is the absolute factor determining character after becoming an adult. Sometimes, we put forward such logic, which has no statistical basis, as a means to understand ourselves or others. But everyone, who was born with the most perfect background and conditions in the world? As I mentioned last week, more than 80% of the correct answers to biblical questions are "Jesus Christ." Jesus is the Son of God and the omniscient, omnipotent Creator. Yet, look closely at Jesus' public ministry. Did the Lord even once use that heavenly power privately to prove Himself or protect Himself?

 

The Lord came to this earth clothed in the exact same nature as us. For our sake, who would make excuses saying, "Since Jesus is God, everything must have been easy; is He not different from us?" the Lord humbled Himself and took the form of a servant. And He clearly declared: "I do not live according to my own will, nor do I speak the words I want to speak. I carry out all these things relying only on the Holy Spirit."

 

Jesus' obedience was not mechanical. When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not as I will, but as you will," the Lord did not hide the pain and fear He felt as a being with a physical body. He trusted that the Father's will was more correct than His own and relied thoroughly on God. The Lord was tempted just as we are, and experienced hunger, anger, and tears. He could become our "firstfruits" because He lived relying on the Holy Spirit within the same human limitations as ours, yet without sin.

 

We often say, "I also want to live relying on Him like the Lord, but there is no way." For us, the Lord promised: "I will send you the Helper, the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit resides not outside us, but within us. Even though Jesus personally showed the example of victory by relying on the Spirit, are we still focusing all our attention only on our own abilities and situations rather than the Holy Spirit's guidance?

 

The Lord's Protection Turning Worldly Boasts into Rubbish

Like Jesus Christ, who showed the example of true faith by trusting only in God and looking only at the Holy Spirit, you too must firmly hold onto the Lord's Word and promise rather than striving to become strong yourselves to overcome this world. When we abide in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God surrounds us with His wonderful protection. Thus, even if something in this world is resplendent, He causes us to set it down in the place of a "desiccant" and "preservative" that refines and preserves us.

 

No matter how precious or beautiful something in the world may be, it cannot help but be regarded as rubbish before the glory of Christ. Nevertheless, God reveals His living presence through our weak lives. He is indeed a marvelous and great God. Therefore, although we live with our feet planted on this earth, we are by no means those who belong to the world. We are people belonging to the eternal heaven.

 

Let us pray.

Loving Lord, we confess that we often live forgetting even the precious declaration that the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us.

 

We earnestly desire that, at this time, You would make us realize once again our identity—who we are. Also, let us deeply meditate on the great work of salvation You have performed for us.

 

Most of all, we believe that Jesus Christ is our true Savior. Since the Lord is within us and united with us, let us also follow the footsteps of that holy life He personally lived on this earth. We earnestly desire to carve deeply into our hearts once again that great love with which You still help us and intercede for us with tears.

 

Lord, pour heavenly new strength into us, who are prone to give up before the wall of reality and are shaken as our hearts are stolen by ourselves from time to time. Thus, for the glory of the Lord alone, let us walk with dignity as those who possess heavenly citizenship.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.