I
heard a story this week about a mother who went to talk to her pastor
about her son. She was concerned because he was not living a "Christian"
life. He wasn't attending church... but "she was certain that her son knew
Jesus." At that point the pastor stopped the woman, and in the most
loving way he could deliver this harsh truth, he informed her that her
son could not know Jesus. There is no way for someone to truly Know
Christ and not be radically changed by His amazing love.
"For
if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who
are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." (Romans 8:13-14)
That
point really resonated with me. Don't we all want to think that OUR
loved ones will be in heaven... or even that WE will be with Jesus
forever. Are we fooling ourselves?
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." (James 1:22)
During
my Church's Bible Study our pastor was talking about the book of
Jeremiah. Sometime during the discussion he mentioned that when his
grandfather was dying, his grandmother said to her husband, well I hope I see
you on the other side. She really didn't know if she would, and she
wasn't about to fool herself into thinking that although his life showed
no fruit of the Christian life, that he would go to heaven just because
he was family.
I
have found that when I hear a theme repeated to me, it's time to write.
God must know I have a hearing problem because when He wants to get my
attention He doesn't just say something once, it becomes evident
in multiple aspects of my life. After hearing this idea of fooling ourselves into thinking we are going to heaven twice within a week, I guess the Holy Spirit was urging to write about this...
It's
truly a strange paradox that we spend our lives and literally spend our
livelihood on worrying about every tiny detail, except about how that
relates to our eternity. We assume the worst, "he doesn't like me" "I'll
never find a job" "I'm not smart enough" "will my kids go to college" ...but when it comes to heaven, we all think "yeah,
I'm going to heaven".
We
want control over the things we have no control over, but negate the
responsibility that we DO have control over. The circumstances of our
lives, the opinions of others, the disasters and other issues are
God's realm. Give Him control and stop worrying! On the other hand, we
have control of our hearts and our decision to turn our hearts and plans
toward Him. He gives us that freedom, that freewill, but we just say
"God willing". Ohhhh how the Devil is the same today as he always was.
The same sin, the same prideful thoughts clouded Adam and Eve's
decision. They too had the ability to decide to live life hand-in-hand
with the Lord, but the Enemy seduced them into thinking they should have
MORE say, more "understanding".
"That
is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have
enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than
food, and your body more than clothing?" (Matt 6:25)
"Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34)
"We
do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and
perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the
cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor
beside God's throne." (Hebrews 12:2)
As
always, our amazing God has given us the solution! Oh how blessed we
are to always have an escape from the bondage that we have tied
ourselves in! Ask him
to free you from worry and then focus your life on eternity; give your life's issues to the Holy Spirit daily. Make your
decisions the way Jesus did and remind yourself that each day matters.
Each day has an effect on your eternity and live with the end in mind.
Surrender to Him and you shall be Free! ....But Beware... the world will
fight you on this! It will tell you that you should have control, that
surrender is a dirty word and that this "plan" doesn't make sense... but
that's just it, it Doesn't make worldly sense, it makes eternal sense.
So anyone focused on the world will never understand the plans of
someone focused on eternity.
"Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what
is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
"Not
that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on
to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I
do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:12-14)
Reflection Question: Are you in Bondage to this world or are you focused on being Heaven Bound?
