A Christian never has to be depressed. Ever.
If you think that’s a radical statement, you are right. It is radical. But praise God it’s the truth!
I am not condemning anyone who suffers from depression. Depression is a continued state of sadness, grief, or hopelessness, usually rooted in some form of trauma, loss or broken expectations. Statistics say that 7 million Christians in America suffer serious depression every year.
What I am saying is that God has set us free from these things. By His resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ has forever secured a future for you of eternal life with God that will be glorious, filled with joy, purpose and peace far beyond even the very best moments of our lives in this world.
Jesus suffered unimaginable agony in his passion and crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweated drops of blood as God laid on him the sin of the world. He said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.” Matt. 26:38. Soon after, he was imprisoned, falsely accused, beaten with fists, spit on, beaten with a rod, scourged almost to death, cut with a crown of thorns, mocked, stripped, and nailed to a cross. As he hung by the nails in his hands and feet, he slowly bled and suffocated to death.
But on the third day – that first Easter morning — His dead body was gloriously transformed into a form that has never existed before. He came out of that grave, never to return! After appearing to his disciples several times over the next forty days, he was taken to heaven, and seated at God’s right hand.
The day is coming soon when Jesus will return to this earth and everyone who has believed in Him will be instantly, gloriously transformed and meet the Lord in the air! In 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, The Bible says,
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul also wrote,
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
When Jesus comes, He will “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,” (Philippians 3:21). As John says, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is.” (1 John 3:2).
Jesus foresaw these things, and it motivated Him to endure through the suffering of the cross. Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the joy that was set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In this life, we will face hardships and trials. The can be painful and very difficult, there is no question. But it is not God’s will for us to get depressed. First, when we put faith in God’s promises, which are ours through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we will experience victory over these hardships in this life! (For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4).
But also, we need to focus, not on the hardships, but on our eternal future in Christ! The Bible says His return to earth and our glorious transformation is “our blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13). It will be so glorious, wonderful and joyful that no suffering in this life can even be compared to it! (Romans 8:18). When it comes, all regret, disappointment, hurt, pain, fear and grief will disappear forever!
This Easter, I would like to encourage you to imagine these things coming to pass for you! Can you imagine being in God’s presence forever?
- Imagine being filled to the point of overflowing with God’s love forever.
- Imagine all having perfect knowledge and no confusion, forever.
- Imagine perfect peace and unity with God and all believers in unbroken fellowship, forever!
- Imagine perfect health, energy, vitality and life forever, with no sickness, pains or limitations ever again.
- Imagine glorious beauty and a world restored to paradise!
- Imagine living in the heavenly Jerusalem forever, where God himself is the light thereof, to the point that there is no need for the Sun or moon.
These things are CERTAIN for you because JESUS already suffered and WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD for you! So, let’s lift our hearts and minds above the struggles of the world to focus on the VICTORY of CHRIST’S RESURRECTION and our future in Him!
In Revelation 22:20, Jesus said, “Surely I come quickly,” and the Apostle John responded, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
I agree with John! How about you?
