Think of a pool table and how the balls on
that table move. The player sets up a shot, aiming the cue ball to strike a
ball that is just sitting there passively. The balls on the table react, moving
only when hit. The illustration is imperfect in that pool balls are inanimate
objects, but let me challenge you to ask yourself if you are just waiting for
something or someone to set you off, bouncing off some remark, moving only when
pressure is placed on you?
God has
gifted us with the ability to choose course, to live purposefully, to rise above living a reactionary life to
the hits that come our way!
Let me quickly add this. We are not masters of
the universe. Many things will enter our lives that we never saw coming. Six
months ago who knew that our world would be turned upside down by a pandemic?
Six years ago I was just beginning to wrestle with the unimaginable thought
that my beloved wife had a cancer that could (and did) ultimately prove deadly.
You have your own story about those moments that changed you. What we must know
is that we can live purposefully, moving beyond being reactionary. When the
hits come, we need not let ourselves be knocked completely off course or
destroyed by those unforeseen developments like cancers, viruses, economic
collapse, divorce, or disappointments. How can we remain ‘on course?’
We
choose to serve God. Joshua, the
leader of God’s people, addressed them at the end of his life with a challenge
of choice. "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all
faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River
and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if
serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the
River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me
and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NIV)
When Jesus Christ is our true God, not just
our Sunday god, or the insurance god we keep around hoping for a good life, or
the Heaven god that we hold in reserve for the dreaded end, we will set our
hope in Him and plan our course around discovering and doing His will. Even
when we waver or are pushed temporarily ‘off course,’ knowing that He is Lord brings us back ‘on
course’ in due time.
We
see beyond the moment.
When we cultivate faith, living worshipfully at all times, devoted to
the Lord, there is a core strength created in us. That faith allows us to live
the words of Paul- all the time – not just when the sun is shining on us. "For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix
our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18,
NIV) God has something planned for us that is just ‘out of this world’
literally. We must never let the pain of the moment push that from our mind.
We
remember He is always at work on our behalf.
I wish I could see the why behind the what
of everything that happens to me, but I cannot, nor can you. Wise people will
try to learn from what happens to them, will accept responsibilities for those
choices that brought about unintended consequences, refusing to play the victim
in life. They will also realize that sometimes the human mind cannot fathom the
cause and effect. That does not mean we surrender to fate, becoming like those
balls on the pool table, reacting to hit after hit, knocked about randomly throughout
life.
We are held secure in this truth about the sovereign power and will of
God. " And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. … As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are
considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord." (Romans 8:36-39, NIV)
Are you spending inordinate amounts of time just
reacting to people or situations?
Are you living without a greater vision of who
you are in Christ to guide your responses?
Have you, in your reactions, given others the
ability to write the script of your life rather than choosing to faithfully and
purposefully living in the will of God?
Paul wrote those words about his single-minded
focus of life early in his public ministry. History reveals that he lived
them! About two decades later, he was once again reflecting on the course
of his life, this time as he was imprisoned and waiting execution at the hand
of Caesar. He had stayed with the God Story for his life so he was
not filled with regret or remorse.
Note the anticipation in the words he penned
to Timothy. "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an
offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits
me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give
me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who
eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT) I
love those words!
Fought, finished, faithful! The prize, the
crown, now waiting for me! That is living ‘on purpose.’
Lord help us to live in that way in these turbulent times.
Lord help us to live in that way in these turbulent times.
___________
(Pray with Chris Tomlin as he sings of our
heart’s need)
Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves
| Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher
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