Where Does Your Confidence Lie?

Wouldn't it be great to live through all life's ups and downs with a quiet, rock-solid strong confidence; a peace that passes all understanding, no matter what big, ugly, hairy, dangerous thing comes against you? That'd be something, wouldn't it? It sounds almost too good to be true. Perhaps it sounds near impossible when you think about all the things coming against you right now. I have a friend who's struggling with cancer that's spread throughout her whole body. She's undergoing all sorts of treatment. Sometimes,  sure, she sounds weak and tired. That's to be expected. But there's an abiding resilience in her voice and demeanour that's really quite astounding. The Apostle Paul had the same thing, locked away in a dungeon on death row, talking of the terrible people who put him there and yet, despite his desperate circumstances, the reason for his confidence: Philippians 3:18-20 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NRSV) Paul's confidence, my friend's confidence, my confidence, comes from knowing absolutely that one day God will lift us out of this messy world through our faith in Jesus, and that we will spend our eternity in glory with Him.  That's real confidence. That's real peace. Jesus. And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.