restore your temple by James Kinsella , MD
So , I was sick . Drained . Emotionally , spiritually , and physically at a low point in my life . Do you know the feeling ? The thing that makes this low point in my life so sweet ( as I look back ) is this : it was exactly where God wanted me . It was His plan for me and exactly what I needed .
Could I see it at the time ? Not clearly . Would I have chosen that path for myself ? No .
To be perfectly honest , I hated the way I felt physically . I was disgusted with where my ambivalence to God ’ s law , His call , and His path had put me and my family . I was saddened to the point of feeling despair .
Like the Psalmist at the beginning of Psalm 42:5 , “ I cried out , why are you cast down , O my soul , and why are you in turmoil within me ?” It was exactly where God wanted me . Desperately in need of my Savior .
In the midst of that time in my life , I could feel His presence . I knew He had more for me . I knew deep down that He was my Father , but He felt distant . I felt like the God of the Bible and the life I saw before my eyes were not aligned . “ Where is the disconnect ?” I asked .
Then like the clap of thunder , His words began to come down on me . I was questioning God and why He felt distant to me . God had a few questions for me in return ?
God is the Creator , and I am His creation . So when I questioned His plan , like in the book of Job , He said to me . “ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth ? Tell me , if you have understanding ( Job 38:4 ).” He was calling me to glorify Him with my life , all of it .
God is the Father of all nations . So when I questioned His discipline of me , He said to me , “ For the Lord disciplines the one He loves , and chastises every son whom He receives ( Hebrews 12:6 ).” He was calling me to trust Him as a loving Father , even as He disciplined me . Was I going to trust Him ?
God is the Sovereign King . He knows the hairs on my head . The words I will say . The beginning from the end . He directs . He chooses . He upholds the earth with His Word . He said to Moses , “ I will have mercy on whom I have mercy , and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion ( Romans 9:15 ).” He was calling me to surrender to Him as the King of my life and rest under His Kingly rule . Was I willing to surrender to my King ?
God is the Author of salvation . His grace is amazing . He is love ; so He defines what love is . Not me . He is righteous ; so He defines what righteousness is . Not me . His way is narrow and few will find it , but His yoke is easy and His burden is light . His gracious answer to my desperate need for a Savior has a name , and His name is Jesus . The same Jesus who said , “ I am the way , and the truth , and the life . No one comes to the Father except through me ( John 14:6 ).” He was calling me to full repentance and a living faith in Him , and Him , alone to save me . Was I willing to stop simply believing in a person named Jesus and to instead place the faith of all of my life into the hands of the only One who could save me ?
He removed my heart of stone and gave me a new heart . One that soon realized , He wants all of me and wants me now , exactly , where I am . I trust Him . He is my King . I have turned from being my own savior . My faith is in Jesus .
He wants all of you , now , and exactly where you are . If you are asking , like the Psalmist , “ Why are you cast down , O my soul , and why are you in turmoil within me ?” It would be helpful to finish Psalm 42:5 .
Why are you cast down , O my soul , and why are you in turmoil within me ? Hope in God ; for I shall again praise Him , my salvation ( Psalm 42:5 ).
Hope in God ! Praise Him . He is your salvation . He created you . Are you living for Him ? He is the ultimate Father . Do you trust Him ? He is the Sovereign King . Have you surrendered to Him ? He is the Author of salvation . Have you put your faith in Jesus and Him alone to save you ?
My prayer for you is that you now can or someday will answer yes to all of these questions and with me say , “ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son , in whom we have redemption , the forgiveness of sins ( Colossians 2:1314 ).”
James Kinsella , MD serves on 513FREE ’ s board . James is a man after God ’ s own heart . He is a life-example of what it means and looks like to follow Christ . You will find as you read his book , Restore Your Temple , and writings within The Pen Project that he is an encourager through the Word of God . Giving us , the readers , a better understanding of who God truly is and what our response should be .
47