From Glory to Glory: What’s Next for Me and You?

"What's next?"

Whether you admit it or not, whether you've asked out of curiosity or fear of what's around the river bend (a little Pocohantas reference, for you), and maybe even if it has not been consciously, we have all asked that question. 

Chasing dreams is often described as an exhilarating, adrenaline-rush-inducing trust fall. Reaching my dream career has been a cumulation of baby steps. At times, it’s been anticlimactic. Some missteps, some moments I've tripped. Other times I've even fallen down a staircase or two, but God always gets me back on track. Today, I am the closest I've ever been to confidence in God's plan for me: a counselor, teacher of the Bible, and author. It's taken me a long time to get to where I am, twenty-four years to be exact. Every step, I'm always wondering, "What's next?"

Some of us know what’s next, some are curious, and some are just trying to make it through the day. Jesus makes a promise for all of us regardless of where we are. In the Bible, Jesus promises life in abundance. He says, "A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance" (John 10:10, CSB). The Greek word for "abundance" is perissos. Perissos means "something further, more, much more than all" (Blue Letter Bible). Does that not sound exciting?

1 Corinthians 12:24 uses this same Greek word for abundance. Paul contends to the Corinthian church, "God has put the body together, giving greater [perissos, something further, more, much more than all] honor to the less honorable." Paul is saying here that those that do not deserve honor actually receive more honor within the church. This verse makes it clear that the "abundance" and the "more" is not something deserved. It is a gift given through Jesus. As Jesus goes on in John 10, He says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). For those who do not know who Jesus is or what He did, He is God and over two thousand years ago He came to earth fully God and fully human. He walked among us in love, kindness, compassion, goodness, and holiness. Then, Jesus died for us. He paid all our debts and redeemed all of our shame through His spilled blood so that we could have life in abundance. There is nothing we can do to earn this gift or abundance. You must be thinking, “A gift? Sounds easy enough!” But, “abundance," this perissos, isn't always what we think it will be.

“He paid all our debts and redeemed all of our shame through His spilled blood so that we could have life in abundance.”

Some of this perissos or “abundant life” has been watching my mom and twin's baptism. Abundance has been graduating high school and college. Here recently, I started grad school. I have made life-long friends and married the love of my life and best friend. I have served on ministry teams and learned how to play the piano. I found a church home with beautiful fellowship and community. And on the flip side, some of it has been homelessness. There was a season when I got bullied. Some of it has been my father suddenly packing up and leaving while I was away for the weekend. It has been caring for a family member going through psychosis. It has been dealing with and healing from childhood trauma. I have spent evenings on my knees crying out to God for help and rescue. How could that be abundance?

Despite the ups and downs, I am fully aware the life I live today is more than I deserve. How did a fatherless, thieving, fist-fighting, broken daughter of a drug addict find herself living in freedom? It is a gift offered to me by Jesus, who stands as the Sacrificial Lamb and the Good Shepherd. The Sacrificial Lamb died in our place. The Good Shepherd stands at the gate of life in abundance and welcomes us in. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection made my abundance possible. My blog will revolve around this "more." Some blog posts will be about the past: how my childhood has affected how I live in this gift and how this gift has helped me heal. Some blog posts will be about the present: the new things God is teaching me while I live in the "more." Some blog posts will be about the future: what hopes, dreams and desires God is forming in me as I press into His abundance.

So, what is this "abundance"? What do we get when we accept Jesus? What is next for all of us as believers?

"Life in abundance" does not mean my friends, my husband, my career, my dreams, or my future, those are mere consequences of it. As I have pondered frequently what was next, what abundance was, and how my life has gone, a question echoed in my head: "What on this earth have I deserved less than Jesus?" Tears welled into my eyes as this question left me in awe. Graduating high school, graduating college, and marrying a Godly man, are all amazing blessings. But the real gift that I give thanks for at the end of every day, the gift I deserve the least, the gift that granted me new life when I deserved death is not school, it’s not a new career, it’s not even my husband. It’s Jesus.

Jesus is the abundance. Jesus laid down His life so that we could know Him. The longer we live in a relationship with Him, the clearer Jesus' face, love, character, truth, and goodness become. The Apostle Paul says "We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18, CSB). Each new "glory" is not necessarily new experiences or career jumps, although it may lead to that from time to time. It’s transformation into His likeness as we get to know Him through the Holy Spirit. You see, Jesus did not stay dead. Three days after His death, He was resurrected from the grave. This does more than give us a holiday to hunt eggs and grill out with family. His resurrection changes eternity. It means that whatever sin, baggage, or mistakes we carry, we get to lay it down. We get to take up this new, abundant life with Jesus now and forever.

"We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, CSB)

So, what is next, are you wondering? More of Jesus. More of the Holy Spirit. More of God's presence. More Scripture. More repentance. More Christian community. More fruits of the Spirit. More of God's kingdom. More loving and serving His people. More becoming like Christ. More of Him. And one day, more will be standing before Jesus face to face as He is seated on the throne in Heaven. I do not care if it aligns with my desires, agenda, or preferences. Because if Jesus never takes me to whatever dreams I am chasing, He will always be enough. There will always be more to learn about Him. He will always be better. He is everything and works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). And if you do not know Him, here is an official invite into this abundance, into Jesus's arms. He loves you so much. And if you know Him, do you trust Him? Do you truly believe and understand that He is enough?

“…if Jesus never takes me to whatever dreams I am chasing, He will always be enough.”

Abundance is never what I think it will be. He is far greater.

So, here is my first blog post. An introduction, if you will, to Abby in Abundance. Welcome, friend.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

What comes to mind when you hear the words, “Jesus is enough.” Does that bring you peace? Does is raise for questions? Let me know in the comments below!