I’ve learned a long time ago that extreme emotions gave me good insight into what I actually believe. Lies are the primary method that the enemy uses to keep us from experiencing the quality of life God has intended for us. It takes a little digging and reflection to figure out what they mean. 

For example, I know all the right answers and if asked I would say I fully trust God is in control of my life and loves me, but if I’m really anxious, my emotions are telling me subconsciously that I have some doubts. If I am feeling really down, subconsciously, I am believing that I am not whole in Christ, and seemingly have lost something or lack something. 

Well, I don’t know about you but lately, I have been much more scared than usual watching the news 24/7 because my brain believes that an unstable man in Moscow has control over my fate and the fate of the world because he has the ability to push a button and release nukes. 

If you are having a similar issue, I want to remind you that Putin, or any man for that matter, does not have the final say. God is still in control of everything…if this man’s heart continues to beat, if his lungs are allowed to accept air, if the muscles in his finger are capable of pushing down on a button - God is still in control. A God that loves us so much he was willing to lay down his life for us. Love holds the switchboard of our future, not a dictator, nor the UN or random chance. 

Bad things can still happen to us in this world, so emotions of fear and sadness are justified. But when fear turns into anxiety or sadness into hopelessness, then we must ask these questions not because we need to judge ourselves and feel even more down and unworthy, but so that we don’t suffer unnecessarily. In order to correct the lies with the truth, we must remind ourselves that we have hope and can experience the fruit of the spirit now. As Paul said,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Cor 4:16

Anytime you feel afraid, I want you to look up at the blue sky and be reminded of some important truths. The color blue is used often in the Old Testament as a reminder and I want to dig in with you a little bit today of what it should remind us of. 

Blue or more specifically, tekhelet and safire, are specifically mentioned with regards to the throne of God, the Tabernacle, and the tassels of the prayer shawls.

When you begin to feel stressed the first thing you must do is set your mind on the throne of God. 

The Throne

“and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.” Exodus 24:10 

Set your eyes on heaven where we will experience completeness, shalom. Our treasure can never be taken away all will be restored nothing will be lost 

We may think we are lacking or have lost things, but the truth is our real treasure is waiting for us and can never be taken or diminished.

If you lost a dollar and thought it was the only dollar that you had, you would be pretty stressed.  But if you lost a dollar and knew you had a million saved in the bank account, you wouldn’t even think twice about the dollar. 

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20 

The Tabernacle

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.” Exodus 26:1 

These three colors are mentioned numerous times in the tabernacle and the temple. We will get into what I believe the purple and scarlet colors represent in another video, but for now, I want to focus on the color blue. I believe the blue represented divinity as it was clearly mentioned as a color associated with the throne of God. 

The color blue was commanded to be the covering of numerous vessels and items used in the tabernacle. The old testament covenant people, I believe, would have interpreted this as a form of protection from God. 

The New Covenant brings an even deeper meaning to this. The root of the word for blue is KLA. It is the same root we spoke about in the last blog that also makes up the word Kallah, which means Bride. The KLA root means complete or finished. 

Jesus' final words on the cross when purchasing our freedom was this same word “FINISHED”. I believe this is a picture of being covered by the finished work of Christ. 

The covering of that finished work allows us to enter the presence of God. When Jesus says, “I am the door” and we see the blue on the door, I believe it is a picture of Jesus' finished work. Allowing us justification to enter the gates into God's presence. On the veil is a picture of how the finished work sanctifies us to enter the holy of holies. Based on the divine work of Christ, it is God's saving work on our behalf - His finished work as the son of God. 

Christ kept perfect obedience to the law of God and the convent law of Moses. The promise of his finished work is victory over death. 

Widen Your Perspective

Stop focusing solely on the problem directly in front of you. The Bible says to set your mind on things above. When we take eternity into consideration, it makes the problems on earth seem small.  

My pastor gave the example of looking at a knot at the end of a 20-foot rope and said, “imagine if this rope just kept going and going around the world into infinity”.  The knot on the end represents your time on earth and the rest of the rope represents your eternal existence.  

How crazy would it be to allow that tiny amount of time to consume all of our focus?  We have to take into consideration the entire rope if we are to be able to put things into proper perspective.  It also helps us endure suffering knowing it only lasts for that short amount of time and we have a great future to look forward to. 

Nick Vujicic - The founder of “Life without Limbs”, spoke at my church a few years ago (he is a man who was born without arms and legs and now shares a message of hope) and I remember him saying when he was at his lowest that many of the things people try to say to encourage him just weren’t enough. No amount of positive thinking was going to lift him out of the pit. But when he came to know Christ and understood the promises that are meant for his future, the promise that the curse would be reversed, that pain was temporary, and that we would ultimately experience victory over death, that hope was enough. He said, hope has to be big enough to work for the most extreme circumstances or it isn’t really hope at all. 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I am sure you have been following the crisis in Ukraine. Most people have found President Zulinsky's actions to be inspiring. The reason it captures so many people’s hearts is that he could have justifiably saved himself. But instead, he did not desert or abandon his people. In the same way, Christ could have left us to die in our sins. But instead, he sacrificed himself to save us. As a result of this act of love, we can be confident that nothing will separate us from His love or prevent Him from rescuing us. 

Like Zulinsky quoted, “Life will win over death”. We no longer have to fear the biggest fear of them all. No matter what, even if the absolute worst happens, we don’t have to fear it because we know it is not the end rather a glorious new beginning. We will not cease to exist, we will simply be transformed. Even the symptoms of death such as sickness and pain, are not to be dreaded because we can take heart that they are only temporary. 

There’s a famous book by Victor Franco called, Man’s Search For Meaning. It is a story from a Holocaust survivor talking about the difference between the mindset of those who died and those who lived. He said like clockwork, the second someone lost hope would perish within 72 hours. Others experiencing the exact same situation who survived all had one trait in common.  They found meaning in their suffering.  Many held to the perception that they had to survive to tell their story so that it would never happen again.  They had a reason big enough which was to save future generations, and that reason was able to make any amount of suffering worth pushing through. 

Christ himself shared a similar perspective on how He endured the cross. He did it for the glory set before Him.  All of his attention was focused on the prize.  The outcome of our salvation made the cost that should’ve been unendurable, endurable.

The Reminder of the Talit the Blue Tassels 

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord.” 

The ten commandments were said to have been written on a blue sapphire stone like that of God's throne. The commandments and the law of the Lord represented the covenant between God and Israel. The color blue was supposed to remind them of that covenant. We are no longer under the Mosaic covenant but the principle still applies. 

When we see the color blue, it should remind us of the covenant God made with us. The new covenant of Grace! That covenant promises that we have been adopted as sons. We are His. Throughout all generations, God has been faithful to His covenant, and we can trust that the promises He gave us are sealed. 

God will never abandon His people. He’s always watching over them in generations past and continues to do so today. 

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your sons hasten back, and those who laid you waste depart from you.” Isaiah 49: 15 - 17

Remember the covenant and the promises of God. Remember your identity as God’s child. He will not forget you or abandon you. His demonstration on the cross proved how far He is willing to go for you. Why then would He forsake you now?

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?h Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Truths

When you begin to feel like life seems out of control or fear grips you, look up at the blue sky and be reminded of these truths:  

1. The Throne of God

   God is still on the throne and love is in control of every situation, not randomness or evil. We have a great inheritance to set our mind on and look forward to, which no one can take away. Nothing of value can be taken from us permanently.
   

2. The Blue in the Tabernacle

   We are covered by the finished work of Christ. We have victory over death and the curses of this world. Pain is only temporary.

3. The Blue Tassels

   We are reminded of the covenant God has made with us. He will never leave, forget or forsake us for He has engraved us on the palms of His hands.

   Remember these truths. Remember hope and rest in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Shalom.