.
My journey as a Christian is sustained by looking forward to heaven. (Hence, the name of my blog, Looking For That City.) Many are the Christians who begin the journey, but simply quit. Many, also, are the reasons why. Sometimes I wonder if they are convinced that Heaven is well worth the wait.
It seems some Christians seek too much of Heaven's reward while in this world. We are keen on the notion of receiving from God a wealth of blessings until our cup is full, "pressed down, shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38). We want more of His blessings now; for He promised a life lived abundantly. But, God never promised us a rose garden; He never promised preferential treatment in this world. Quite to the contrary, we are warned if we truly cling to His calling, we will be hated and persecuted by the world. The "cup running over" does not promise riches in ths life. Rather, He calls us to live contentedly in spiritual abundance because we are living in His will, and unto the absolute abundance of our heavenly home.
As a poem, Heaven on Earth, I say it like this:
Oft, of the prize we yearn to know,
awaiting in heaven, that fair land to go.
No eye, no ear, no thought can ascend,
to the wonders wrought by the Son of Man.
Thinking bright glory here we should see,
health, wealth and wisdom, our Heaven to be;
in striving to do we make Him small,
if Heaven on earth holds all in all.
Blessings in all things, God ordains,
unto each heart where He lives and reigns.
Yet, this no promise of thornless roses;
life by His power, His Word proposes.
Some things we deem near-heavenly,
yet, Heaven here can never be;
here no royal robe and crown,
here no angelic anthems sound.
The wait, the journey, and the race,
sweeter still our meeting makes.
When we know Him face to face,
we'll know full well His saving Grace.
Far beyond, far greater than we create,
True Heaven is well, well worth the wait.
Then in judgemnt, the appointed date,
new song singing, we'll pass thru the gate.
Where is our Heaven? Have we "learned to be content in whatever circumstance [we are]" (Phil.4:11)? Or, is pressing on to the prize too oppressing? Perhaps, it is when we lose sight of where our Heaven is.
Take time to remember the promises of heaven. Remember the Sacrifice which was made to bring us to the Place of Absolute Abundance. And, remember - True Heaven is well worth the wait.
.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Failure Is NOT Final!
.
Failure is not final. By God's grace through Christ's redemption, failure is NOT final!
A young man endures near-countless days in prison. His mistakes are those which people, both inside and outside the church, consider "big" sins. Though any sin is abhorent to God, we tend to falsely rank misdeeds; believing others' sins are wretched and our "little" sins are, "Oh, not so bad compared to THAT." Perhaps, the most dangerous transgressions are those we call "secret" sins - the temptations, thoughts, and hidden wrongs which have not been subjected to the cleansing of Christ. Big sins, little sins, or secret sins, all are failures before God. But, the failure does not have to be final. There is, through Jesus, the complete cure for our wretched ways.
Considering failure in a lighter vein, it is akin to the Kenny Rogers song about a little boy learning to hit a baseball. How many kids have tried to learn just this way? The little boy is trying to hit the ball by tossing it up and swinging at it as it falls.
On the first pitch, the ball goes up, the ball comes down, and he swings his bat as it hits the ground. The second pitch is hardly different from the first - the ball goes up, the ball comes down, again he swings his bat as the ball hits the ground. Listening to the song, you suppose on the next pitch the little boy is going to connect; he's going to send the ball soaring! Picture him digging in, adjusting his cap, and propping the bat on his shoulder. He makes the pitch; the ball goes up, the ball comes down, the little boy swings his bat all the way around. And, the ball hits the ground.
Your heart sinks just as quickly as the ball hitting the ground. You know this was strike three. The little boy has struck out. You think the youngster has failed. But, no, even the little boy knows so much better. He picks up the ball, undeterred and with a heart full of optimism. If you've heard the song you'll remember the his words, "I never knew I could pitch THAT good!"
He knows failure is not final. He'll press on until he learns how to hit, or maybe he'll learn his place is on the pitcher's mound. Whichever, he will press on past his failure. We, too, can press on past our failures. Big sins, little sins, or secret sins, our failures are not final. But, Jesus' forgiveness is final! In Him, the old failures are forgotten, and every day we can begin with no strikes against us.
.
Failure is not final. By God's grace through Christ's redemption, failure is NOT final!
A young man endures near-countless days in prison. His mistakes are those which people, both inside and outside the church, consider "big" sins. Though any sin is abhorent to God, we tend to falsely rank misdeeds; believing others' sins are wretched and our "little" sins are, "Oh, not so bad compared to THAT." Perhaps, the most dangerous transgressions are those we call "secret" sins - the temptations, thoughts, and hidden wrongs which have not been subjected to the cleansing of Christ. Big sins, little sins, or secret sins, all are failures before God. But, the failure does not have to be final. There is, through Jesus, the complete cure for our wretched ways.
Considering failure in a lighter vein, it is akin to the Kenny Rogers song about a little boy learning to hit a baseball. How many kids have tried to learn just this way? The little boy is trying to hit the ball by tossing it up and swinging at it as it falls.
On the first pitch, the ball goes up, the ball comes down, and he swings his bat as it hits the ground. The second pitch is hardly different from the first - the ball goes up, the ball comes down, again he swings his bat as the ball hits the ground. Listening to the song, you suppose on the next pitch the little boy is going to connect; he's going to send the ball soaring! Picture him digging in, adjusting his cap, and propping the bat on his shoulder. He makes the pitch; the ball goes up, the ball comes down, the little boy swings his bat all the way around. And, the ball hits the ground.
Your heart sinks just as quickly as the ball hitting the ground. You know this was strike three. The little boy has struck out. You think the youngster has failed. But, no, even the little boy knows so much better. He picks up the ball, undeterred and with a heart full of optimism. If you've heard the song you'll remember the his words, "I never knew I could pitch THAT good!"
He knows failure is not final. He'll press on until he learns how to hit, or maybe he'll learn his place is on the pitcher's mound. Whichever, he will press on past his failure. We, too, can press on past our failures. Big sins, little sins, or secret sins, our failures are not final. But, Jesus' forgiveness is final! In Him, the old failures are forgotten, and every day we can begin with no strikes against us.
.
A New Mind
.
A new mind - for anyone who has battled the cold, dark vacuum of depression, is an intriguing thought. A new mind, one which perceives the world differently and is not racked in chaos, is intriguing. Barring a new mind, one may wish for a way to restart the old mind. Some may seek a mind which has no color of its past, but is clear and calm, freed of any recollection of past storms.
Or, we may seek a whitewashed mind. The idea of a newly, wiped-clean mind does not make it a new mind. A whitewashed mind functioning within the context of old thinking patterns will quickly be soiled. The need is not for a new mind, but for accepting a renewing of the mind to conform one's thoughts closer to those of Christ. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing if your mind..." (Romans 12:1-2).
The renewing of the mind, from depressed to balanced, means renewing our thought patterns, changing our focus and looking more directly on matters of an eternal nature. It requires seeking more the will of God rather than seeking success, or dwelling on cares which "so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12:1). It requires focusing our thoughts on things above; looking for that city.
Christ is glorified more by an old mind which has been renewed, than by a new mind or a whitewashed mind. The blessing of a renewed mind partly derives from knowing the state of the old mind. As Jesus works through one's life towards the renewing of the mind, the previous state is a benchmark, a means of measuring how far His transformation has moved the mind. Just as light appears brightest when compared to the darkness which it overcomes, there are blessings to be counted when comparing one's old mind to a renewed mind.
What depressed people truly need is a balanced mindest. More than a new mind or a whitewashed mind, God's purposes in our lives are served best through a balanced mind. Ecclesiastes 7:18 teaches, "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." Certainly, the evils exercised in the name of God or the heresies procalimed as truth result from minds anchored in the extremes. When our thoughts veer to the extremes, we are most prone to sin and darkness. Therefore, as we press on towards finding light, our aim is not for whitewashing, but for rebalancing the mind.
Know it is in God's power to renew and balance our minds if we submit to His will, focusing on His purpose. As David wrote in Psalm 13, we may wonder, "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrowed in my heart?" David answers the mournful question, saying, "But, I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation." Through unfailing love Jesus changes our thought patterns, renews our focus, and takes full reign over our past thoughts, working them for good. This is far better than starting with a clean slate, with no appreciation for His good working.
.
A new mind - for anyone who has battled the cold, dark vacuum of depression, is an intriguing thought. A new mind, one which perceives the world differently and is not racked in chaos, is intriguing. Barring a new mind, one may wish for a way to restart the old mind. Some may seek a mind which has no color of its past, but is clear and calm, freed of any recollection of past storms.
Or, we may seek a whitewashed mind. The idea of a newly, wiped-clean mind does not make it a new mind. A whitewashed mind functioning within the context of old thinking patterns will quickly be soiled. The need is not for a new mind, but for accepting a renewing of the mind to conform one's thoughts closer to those of Christ. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing if your mind..." (Romans 12:1-2).
The renewing of the mind, from depressed to balanced, means renewing our thought patterns, changing our focus and looking more directly on matters of an eternal nature. It requires seeking more the will of God rather than seeking success, or dwelling on cares which "so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12:1). It requires focusing our thoughts on things above; looking for that city.
Christ is glorified more by an old mind which has been renewed, than by a new mind or a whitewashed mind. The blessing of a renewed mind partly derives from knowing the state of the old mind. As Jesus works through one's life towards the renewing of the mind, the previous state is a benchmark, a means of measuring how far His transformation has moved the mind. Just as light appears brightest when compared to the darkness which it overcomes, there are blessings to be counted when comparing one's old mind to a renewed mind.
What depressed people truly need is a balanced mindest. More than a new mind or a whitewashed mind, God's purposes in our lives are served best through a balanced mind. Ecclesiastes 7:18 teaches, "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." Certainly, the evils exercised in the name of God or the heresies procalimed as truth result from minds anchored in the extremes. When our thoughts veer to the extremes, we are most prone to sin and darkness. Therefore, as we press on towards finding light, our aim is not for whitewashing, but for rebalancing the mind.
Know it is in God's power to renew and balance our minds if we submit to His will, focusing on His purpose. As David wrote in Psalm 13, we may wonder, "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrowed in my heart?" David answers the mournful question, saying, "But, I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation." Through unfailing love Jesus changes our thought patterns, renews our focus, and takes full reign over our past thoughts, working them for good. This is far better than starting with a clean slate, with no appreciation for His good working.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)