This blog is not just an old
man griping about ‘the kids these days.’ Wasting our lives in
trivial pursuits is a spiritual matter with eternal consequence. The Spirit
directs us to “make the most of every opportunity” and “to be sober” in
the way we spend our limited days here before we step into the Presence of the
Lord. To put it bluntly – would you want to stand before the Lord and
explain the way you spent last weekend? Would you want Him to go through
your checkbook and inquire about how you used the resources available to
you? Fact is –"Each of us shall give account of himself to
God." (Romans 14:12, NKJV)
At Creation festival a long
time ago, Dr. Tony Campolo told of a college friend, a brilliant man, who set
out to become a physician. The young man was focused on gaining skills he
could take to people in poor places to make their lives better. It was
what he believed God wanted him to do. During his training, he realized
the money that he could make in plastic surgery and soon the vision of healing
the poor was replaced by building more beautiful bodies for the rich. Tony
shocked us all by wondering out loud how this man would explain to Jesus the
choice he made to use his education and skills to create bigger breasts for
wealthy women!
So, you may be wondering, if
I think that there is a place for fun and diversion? Yes, it is good to
play. We all need rest and recreation. Jesus and His disciples withdrew from
the demands of the crowds from time to time. But, can you imagine they
found a nightclub in Jerusalem in which to unwind, while they sipped exotic
wines from Italy? (a weak attempt at humor there)
Our world desperately needs
deep men and women, those who are serious about serving God and building His
kingdom. Who among us dares to aspire to be like Daniel who was renowned
as a man of vision, full of courage and wisdom, advisor to kings, and survivor
of a lion’s den? Would we take Joshua and Caleb as our model, bold men of
faith who risked the ire of Israel to bring a minority report that called for
obedience to God? Would we adopt Paul’s desire to give our utmost?
Faced with hardship he said, “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I
don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after
city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work
of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." (Acts 20:22-24, NLT)
We need not wait for some
dramatic turn of events to begin to serve. We cannot seek only the BIG,
headline grabbing moment in which to become a hero for Jesus Christ. We
work for Him now, right where we are. Mom, you have disciples to be made
sitting at your dinner table. Sir, your family needs your prayers, your
example to follow. The person who lives next door and the one who works
in your department needs someone to show them the way to the One in whom is
found eternal life.
Perhaps it seems somewhat
over the top to be reminded that "everyone has to die once, then face
the consequences." (Hebrews 9:27, The Message) The truth
remains, this life is just the prelude to real life. This is not the story!
That one will be written in Heaven, when we enter the Presence of the
Lord who came to save us, to buy us from slavery to sin, and to return us to
full relationship with our God. Let’s not waste the days. Heaven is
waiting on you!
__________________
Sing the wondrous love of
Jesus
Sing His mercy and His
grace
In the mansions bright and
blessed
He'll prepare for us a
place
Let us then be true and
faithful
Trusting serving ev'ry day
Just one glimpse of Him in
glory
Will the toils of life
repay
Onward to the prize before
us
Soon His beauty we'll
behold
Soon the pearly gates will
open
We shall tread the streets
of gold
When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing
that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the
victory
Eliza Edmunds Stites Hewitt |
Emily Divine Wilson
© Words: Public Domain
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