Now that I am in my sixties, life feels as if it is streaming by at lightning speed, yet I feel as if there is still so much to accomplish for the kingdom. The danger, for me, is when I allow ‘doing’ to define who I am. Reality is that I am but one small part of the body of Christ and can only do what I am called to do. I am no one’s Savior. I constantly remind myself that I am defined by who my Father says I am.
Another facet of what I am dealing with concerning the speed at which life is happening has to do with my health. Parkinson’s brings with it moments of feeling fearful and helpless, but I have learned - and will continue to learn - that God’s love overpowers fear and that His presence with me is constant. The bottom line is that I know one day I will die. I am prepared for that day…but my plan until that day comes? I am going to live my life fully and joyfully…and free from the shackles of fear and worry and doubt and any lies the enemy cares to throw my way. Human life is fleeting in the grand scheme of things, but life with Jesus is massive and forever! Living with that as my foundational bedrock is liberating…freeing.
I have met people in prison who seem freer than people who are not. I have met people suffering great physical handicaps who seem to take more joy in life than those who are not. I have met people who have been so oppressed by life who seem to be more full of hope than those who have not. What makes such freedom, such hope, and such joy possible? Knowing Christ intimately and believing He is with us causing all things to work together for our good…because He loves us that much!
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9 NASB
The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4 NASB
On July 11, 1995 I wrote a song called ‘Nobody Can Take My Life Away’. The story behind the song is basic truth directly from God’s Word:
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8 NASB
That passage of scripture brings great encouragement to my soul. Utter reality is that whether I am alive on earth or alive in heaven, I am still with Jesus. Absolutely nothing changes! That is a fear-killer! That is a worry-killer! That is a doubt-killer! That is a lie-killer! There is no reason to live as a victim of Parkinson’s when God intends it for my good. Just read Romans 8:28:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.
We are called to live as victors…as MORE than conquerors! We have been bought with a price! That means Father God saw worth in us even while we were dead in our sin! He wanted us so much that He sent His only Son to take our place on the cross and pay the debt we owed for our sin! Read the end of The Book. We win! That makes me want to live my life victoriously and it makes me want to give my life away for the sake of the King and the kingdom!
Jesus said in John 10:17 and 18, "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
What is the bottom line of life? Nobody can take your life away from you if you are a new creation in Christ! Whether we live or whether we die, we are with the Lord! To be absent from the human body is to be present with Christ. That should go a long way in helping us determine how we will live our lives. We can either be ruled by fear or we can be ruled by love and faith. We can either be ruled by circumstances or we can use those circumstances for the kingdom of God. We can have a despairing point of view or we can have a hopeful point of view. We really do have a choice in how we live our lives. Let us renew our mind with this truth from the heart of Jesus in Matthew 16:25 which says, “…whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Let’s live like we believe that today!
Dennis Jernigan
To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on this subject and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/nobody-can-take-my-life-away-from-me/
Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/09/18/19/53/piano-4487573_1280.jpg
Nobody Can Take My Life Away
WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan
July 11, 1995
Verse
Can somebody take from me
What You alone have given me?
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Can you take what can’t be seen?
Like Jesus Christ alive in me?
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Chorus
Nobody can ever take my life from me!
They may kill my body but they can’t have me!
Take away my sight and still my heart can see,
Nobody can take my life away from me!
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Nobody can ever take my life from me, or
Separate me from His love or liberty!
Take away my physical ability, still
Nobody can take my life away from me!
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Verse
Can someone keep Your hand from me?
Do chains have that ability?
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Chain me down, my heart’s still free!
There is no place Father can’t be!
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Chorus
Nobody can ever take my life from me!
They may kill my body but they can’t have me!
Take away my sight and still my heart can see,
Nobody can take my life away from me!
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!
Nobody can ever take my life from me, or
Separate me from His love or liberty!
Take away my physical ability, still
Nobody can take my life away from me!
No way!
No-no-no-no-no-no-way!