True Wealth.

Last week, I had the privilege of preaching in the beautiful city of Naples, Florida. It was an incredible experience. The weather was warm and sunny. The food at the conference center was superb. The fellowship was even more so.

But the thing that stuck most in my mind from my time in Naples was the wealth and opulence. Million-dollar homes and million-dollar cars; plastic surgery centers on every corner.

And I couldn't help but think: what a bizarre world...

Naples is well-known as a prime-time destination for retirees. People work and save their whole lives in order to retire in Naples, where they can buy luxury cars, putt around in their boats, fish and golf and shop and play pickleball.

It's an incredible life! Truly, it is. But as I observed the people, I couldn't help but sense a deep sadness enter into my heart, and a haunting question:

"Is this really all there is to life? You work. You retire comfortably. You die."

THANK GOD the answer is, "NO!!!"

You see, God doesn't promise comfort. In fact, he guarantees the opposite.

"In this world, you will have trouble."

In the face of that reality, we have three options:

1) Deny it - and spend every waking hour seeking comfort; either taking on an "overcomer" mindset or by subjecting ourselves to the "numb it out" mindset.

2) Despair - and take on a nihilistic outlook for our world and even our own lives.

3) Hope - not in ourselves, but in the very one who issues us the "trouble-guarantee" and then says in full confidence: "Yet take heart. For I have overcome the world."

The Christian life isn't a life of happiness. It's not about comfort. It's not about what we do or accomplish for God.

The Christian life is about learning to live in light of what God has done for us.

It's a life of faith.

Faith in the love and life and death and resurrection of God's Only Son: Jesus Christ.

It's the daily rhythm of seeing yourself with ever-increasing clarity, and rather than running from it or hardening yourself, choosing to rest in the hope and promise of the Gospel.

That's not comfortable.

To see your sin is a painful process.

To see the world ablaze around you is disorienting and overwhelming.

But to know Christ is to recognize that what you experience, both inside and around you, is not able to undo what Christ has accomplished for you, or to stop the work He is doing in you by His Spirit.

Life isn't comfortable.

But our hope isn't in this life.

It's in the ONE who overcame it.

And that takes even this life - disappointing, stressful, painful, sad, and deadly as it may be - and transforms it into something beautiful; something abundant!

The gospel gives purpose to our suffering.

It grants hope to the hopeless.

Because the gospel-centered life is centered on the Triumphant King - who, for the joy set before him, endured all things - that we might become children of God.

And that, my friends, is true comfort. It surpasses circumstance and failure. It's a comfort born from the hope and promise of everlasting life. (John 10:10)