Living in the now is hard for a lot of God’s people …what
with our world’s infatuation with gathering and storing and saving for our old
age. It seems that hoarding has become part of the standard thinking of the
rich and the “wanna be” rich. Now, I for one can empathize with this thought
process, being one of the “baby boomers” who has been suckled with the idea
that if I am going to live a long and satisfying life, I better stockpile lots
of “goodies’ to see me through my senior years.
But, let’s look at this from a Biblical perspective. This
life is really just a dress rehearsal for the eternity that I will spend with my
Heavenly Father …at home in the New Jerusalem. Now, I can perform admirably for
my worldly audience and take my bows for living as my peers...or I can live
faithfully in this "dress rehearsal" and await the moment that I hear
my Savior say, "Well done, my good
and faithful servant." The choice on how I live and for whom I perform
is truly mine.
But in truth, as a follower of Christ, my entire purpose for
living is to prepare me for eternity …to have me practice on earth what I will
perfect in heaven. Now eternity, that’s a LOOOONNGGGG TIME according to 2 Peter
3:8 which says, “But do not overlook this
one fact, Beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand
years as one day. God’s calendar is different than yours and mine…I may
live to be a hundred here on earth, but I’m going to spend a trillion years in
eternity and that requires that I get my eye on the prize while I’m here.
Each one of us was made by God…. for God. God did not put us
here to make us happy, but to make us HOLY…and that’s the struggle of life.
Until we get that thought at the center of our consciousness, we’re probably
going to spend our time and efforts in pursuing the wrong things of this
world….and those “things” lead to our destruction. Sure, we all want to be
successful, fulfilled and comfortable both now and in our “retirement” years;
but God is more interested in your CHARACTER than in your comfort.
So, where does that leave us? Do we listen attentively to
the noise from the crowd that tells us to “grab all we can” since we only “go
around once in life”…or do we heed the Savior’s call to “take up our cross and
follow him.”
If your life is not facing some sort of difficulty, then
maybe it’s time to check your Christian pulse and see if your really have a
heartbeat for the Savior? Truly, it’s okay to want to be reasonably happy here
on earth; to face a minimal amount of desperation or despair….but, remember,
God is more interested in your growth in Christ than the size of your home or
the value of your IRA. If you’re working for the Kingdom, then trust me; Opposition
is near-at-hand….but that’s okay! 1 John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He that
is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
So start living for the eternity that God has promised you
and leave behind the cares and troubles that so easily beset us….Today is the
first day of the rest of your eternity ….at home with Jesus and our Father of
Love.
Letting go of today…Reaching for eternity,
WPQ
Poem for the day...
The eyes of the Lord
travel to and fro
Seeking to find
someone;
Upon whom He might
bestow,
Blessings for a life
well done.
So begin each day with
this mindset
I am here to serve the
Lord...
For I long to know Him
better
By spending time in
His Holy Word!
So give Him your love
and obedience
And each morning when
you arise;
Plan to live this day
for Him
And you will find
favor in His eyes.
WPQ © July 2018
Check out today's blog at
thankfulpraiseministries.com
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