Some people are content to go about their business until a crisis happens... maybe not 9/11, but that is a good example. An event like that changes the way that we live our lives. Do you ever find yourself looking back with sadness or pain? I am not saying that every one does, but how will you feel after the honeymoon is over, the vacation ends, or you don't get promoted? Maybe you've sat down with yourself, or with a significant other, and made a plan and it's working. You are on your way to happiness or some sort. Hmmm...
Sure, most of us have some things back there that we are not proud of. I am not talking about those moments that come before a failure where we might have chosen something else, but feelings that last for eons after one. Did you ever wish you did more of this and less of that? Oh, and skipped "that" all together! Amazingly, many folks live like the wages of sin is gain and not death.
Well, today you are closer to your earthly end than you were yesterday... but to be positive, let's say today is the first day of the rest of your life... or maybe that yesterday was and today is the 2nd day... whatever makes you feel good about the years hat have passed.
One more question. How long has it been since you sat down and said, "Hey God, how am I doing.. I mean am I in your will, am I in your calling for me?"
What made me think of this is a story I heard about 7 years ago. There was a Christian woman that posted prayers on a Yahoo I group I have been a member of for over 10 years. She requested that we (I) pray for a specific flight attendant she saw regularly on her trips from Boston to LA. She just had a heart for her, and asked that she would simply receive Jesus. One day in August 2001, she did, right in the galley of the plane. A few weeks later that same flight attendant was one of those killed in the 9/11 attacks. She had been a Christian but a few weeks.
Who knows the terror she felt that day, or the thoughts she had about Jesus those weeks prior to her death.
The illustration is simple. Because we don't know when the end will come for us, or for this age, things can seem a little more urgent. The Kingdom of God is at hand, and it is coming too. We can experience Heaven now in many ways. Yes, I know, there is a lot evil out there, but we are to be overcomers, not swallowed up by selfish pursuits. In the end we're running a race (a long one for most of us) and the stopwatch will end with a review of sorts.
1 Corinthians 3:12. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident ; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
Many are caught up in work, sleep, family or friends, and occasionally getting off to church. Possibly they are even serving in the church some. The real question is what is our life made of, and will it stand up to the fire? Are we doing things that have eternal value?
Take a look around, what the hell is going on?
Comments