"A man's greatest care should be for that place where he dwells longest; therefore eternity should be his scope."
~ Thomas Manton
I have to admit that one of my most oft asked questions in life is "What's the point?" It's the reason I frequently leave my bed unmade. What's the point? I'm just going to get back in it. It's the reason I rarely pay to have my car washed. What's the point? It's just going to rain again. It's the reason I rarely put makeup on when I'm home for the day. What's the point? I'm just going to have to wash it off. It's also the reason I nearly failed a leadership class with a syllabus full of busy work during my graduate studies. I had better things to do with my time - like skip class and strengthen the bonds of my friendship with Holly by watching Gilmore Girls. Laugh. You should. It's funny. But, it's also true. My friendship with Holly and the laughter we shared over that silly tv show brought me infinitely more joy than sitting in a class that rarely challenged me or provided me with any meaningful information. "What's the point?" is the reason I maintained a steady B+ average throughout school -- all 20 years of it! My mom always wondered what I could have done if I'd applied myself. I was too afraid of the fun and friends I might miss out on if I actually bothered to study very hard. Different priorities -- different "points." ;-)
Lately, I've been hearing a more serious "what's the point?" It comes in the midst of practicing any discipline. When the alarm goes off an hour early for a run ... when a friend calls with a juicy bit of gossip and I know I need to quell the conversation ... when that still small voice inside says it's time to turn the tv off in favor of a more constructive/edifying activity ... when the same voice calls me to assume a physical posture of prayer to reflect my spiritual condition ... when I resist the urge to give in just one more time to any number of temptations. What's the point?
While I'm sure that attitude has been buried in my heart for a long, long time, it's only recently surfaced in my conscious thoughts. And, last week, as I paused to weigh the consequences and rewards of sin and obedience, I heard it again. Only, that time, there was an answer, loud and clear. Holiness is the point. "I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
It was one of those rare moments of extreme clarity. The point, the goal is Jesus - more of Him and less of me. Yes, of course, I knew that. I knew it in my head, probably could have even articulated it more eloquently than I am right now. But, I still didn't get it. It wasn't changing the way I live. You know, like finding out I might have to repeat that leadership class if I didn't start showing up changed my Gilmore Girls watching pattern. These last few days have been like finally figuring out how to turn on the flashlight I've been carrying in my purse forever. Colossians 3:17 says, "Whatever you do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." I finally understand that the point, the goal, of all of my life, every decision I make -- when I rise, what I eat, what I read, how I work, what I say, what I don't say, how I play -- is always holiness, Christlikeness, an effort to proclaim the glory of God, to declare that I have a living hope, a secure future.
What's the point? The point is that life is short and the only things I get to take with me are the treasures I've stored up for myself in heaven above.
Peters says it this way, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Twenty Four and Counting
I almost skipped my quiet time with God this morning. I hit snooze a few too many times, causing me to start my run a bit late, but had such a great run, I decided to go a little longer than usual, putting me that much further behind getting ready for the day. I can't say exactly what prompted me to go ahead and sit down in my favorite chair, pull out my Bible, journal, and current study, but as I turned to a fresh blank page in my journal and began my entry by recording the date, I was so thankful I'd taken the time. Today is Monday, July 13, 2009.
Last night I received an email from a precious friend stating that she and her husband are rejoicing with the angels for Jesus had called their granddaughter's name, and she said "Yes!" I like that because twenty four years ago today, Jesus called my name, and I said "Yes!"
Sometimes, I hesitate to write posts like this one because I'm afraid it'll sound more cheesy than truly express the depth of genuine awe, wonder, and pure joy that floods my heart when I think about it. Should I just keep it to myself? Have a private celebration just between me and Jesus? Certainly, there's an element of that. There are things I whispered to the Lord from my favorite chair this morning that are for His ears alone, and the tender way that He responds through His magnificent Word is not even something I could truly tell you about if I tried with all my best words.
But, just like a regular birthday often warrants a quiet family celebration as well as a larger, more public outright party, I think this day deserves at least a public blog mention.
I've been thinking about the significance of twenty four years. Does my life look like that of a 24 year old believer should? The longer I walk with Jesus the more I realize what a beautiful metaphor exists between the physical life and the spiritual. I think that anyone walking closely with me at this time in my life would say that I very much look like a twenty four year old. There are moments of true maturity, responsiblity, and evidence of the capability to accomplish significant things in service to my King. However, there are also some serious lapses in judgement, times when I seem to slip backwards, preferring to lean more heavily on family and shun true personal responsibility, times when I act more like a young teenager than a fully grown woman.
Twenty four years sounds like a long time, and it has been. I have so many things to celebrate today. I think the greatest thing about celebrating twenty four years of life in Christ is knowing that it's still just the beginning. The words from Amazing Grace ring in my ears as I reach for words to tell you what I'm thinking right now. "When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun." Eternity, that's what I have to look forward to with my sweet Savior.
I Corinthians 13:11-12 ... When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a (wo)man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Last night I received an email from a precious friend stating that she and her husband are rejoicing with the angels for Jesus had called their granddaughter's name, and she said "Yes!" I like that because twenty four years ago today, Jesus called my name, and I said "Yes!"
Sometimes, I hesitate to write posts like this one because I'm afraid it'll sound more cheesy than truly express the depth of genuine awe, wonder, and pure joy that floods my heart when I think about it. Should I just keep it to myself? Have a private celebration just between me and Jesus? Certainly, there's an element of that. There are things I whispered to the Lord from my favorite chair this morning that are for His ears alone, and the tender way that He responds through His magnificent Word is not even something I could truly tell you about if I tried with all my best words.
But, just like a regular birthday often warrants a quiet family celebration as well as a larger, more public outright party, I think this day deserves at least a public blog mention.
I've been thinking about the significance of twenty four years. Does my life look like that of a 24 year old believer should? The longer I walk with Jesus the more I realize what a beautiful metaphor exists between the physical life and the spiritual. I think that anyone walking closely with me at this time in my life would say that I very much look like a twenty four year old. There are moments of true maturity, responsiblity, and evidence of the capability to accomplish significant things in service to my King. However, there are also some serious lapses in judgement, times when I seem to slip backwards, preferring to lean more heavily on family and shun true personal responsibility, times when I act more like a young teenager than a fully grown woman.
Twenty four years sounds like a long time, and it has been. I have so many things to celebrate today. I think the greatest thing about celebrating twenty four years of life in Christ is knowing that it's still just the beginning. The words from Amazing Grace ring in my ears as I reach for words to tell you what I'm thinking right now. "When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun." Eternity, that's what I have to look forward to with my sweet Savior.
I Corinthians 13:11-12 ... When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a (wo)man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
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