“He made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11
This life is a dress rehearsal, a preparation for the next life in eternity. The relationship each one of us has with God here on earth determines our future with Him in eternity. The closer we are to God the more trivial things here on earth become. If we take time to realize how small (and so small that our brains can not come close to comprehending) our life on earth is compared to heaven it can put into perspective the upsets, disappointments, and heartaches here on earth.
Matthew Henry said, “It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day.” Most of us don’t sit around every day thinking about death. In fact, most people I talk to do not want to talk about death. I am not sure if that is because they think it is morbid or are scared of death. Death is probably one the biggest things I am not scared of. Yes, I don’t want to die in a painful or torturous way which I guess the “how I will die” part scares me a little. But I am not fearful of what will happen once I die. In fact, I am pretty excited about it. If you haven’t yet, you MUST read Heaven is for Real by Todd and Colton Burpo (http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Real-Little-Astounding-Story/dp/0849946158)...wow! What an amazing first hand account of what heaven is really like. Shortly after I read the book a friend of mine from college was killed at work. I did grieve the loss of her life and her beautiful, infectious smile as well as I grieved for her close friends, husband, and family. I remember sitting in my living room after watching countless hours of news coverage trying to hear the latest developments with tears streaming down my face and suddenly I couldn’t help but giggle (I know, sounds creepy). I thought of this beautiful woman sitting with Jesus and God in heaven and how could I cry anymore! She is experiencing something that my heart will long for until the day I stand next to God! We were not made soley to endure life on earth but rather we were designed to spend an eternity with our heavenly Daddy in heaven!!
The Purpose Driven Life has a question to consider at the end of each day’s reading. Today’s question is “Since I was made to last forever, what is one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?” I have done some thinking about this throughout the day. The one thing I should stop doing is over scheduling myself (this one piggybacks off of yesterday’s lesson). If I cleared up time in my daily schedule of things I feel obligated to do and filled them with things I feel God calls me to do (spend more time talking with Him, spend more time in the Word of God, devote time to those in my community). I guess that actually answers the second question, too. I feel like God is placing things in my heart (the main one that comes to mind right now is the overwhelming desire I have had for years now to go to Africa and lately Somalia) and I am dishonoring him by making excuses not to fulfill his plan for me. This is an area where prayer is needed in my life. I find a million reasons why I can’t go (finances, mom starts chemo, taking boards, finding a job, etc., etc.). What I need to do is take a leap of faith and realize that if God is placing these desires in my heart over a period of years that this is his purpose and desire for my life.
Maybe I need to spend some more time on the computer today looking up trips to Africa and of course praying about it!
*The picture above is by Akiane Kramarik and was painted when she was 8. It is called Prince of Peace. It was talked about in Heaven is for Real...one of the many faces I can't wait to see in heaven! Here is a video link to Akaine's CNN feature...http://youtu.be/rmm-0-Rdxo8
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