Goodbye World Pt. 3

-------Continued from Pt. 2-------

We claim Christ as our savior and God as our everything. What exactly does that mean? If he is "my everything", shouldn't most of my conversation, lead to him? Shouldn't my every thought and desire be directed toward honoring Him? What He asks, will I do? Where He leads, will I follow? Where He sends, will I go? Isaiah heard these words directly from the mouth of God... "Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us?" Isaiah had a hard decision to make! Was he going to be willing to leave the comforts that he knew in order to do as his God asked of him? Or would he rather just claim the status of a follower of God, but do his own thing? What is my response to God's call for wholehearted abandonment to my own comforts and desires? I wonder if we have been fooled!? I look around and see something that I hadn't realized until these last few years of my life. So often I see great people! Most of which claim to be Christ followers. I can feel the connection we have through the Spirit of God. Yet where are we going? What are we doing to share the love of God with the lost in this world. Here in the U.S. especially, we have been fooled that what we are doing is "ok". Without realizing it, too often we walk in this fashion... As life unfolds, we look at our options, assess the pros and cons and move forward. Often we take steps in the direction that appeals to us most and just ask God to bless it. If He doesn't, we then and only then begin to wonder if that's "where God wanted me to go". People often say "just walk by faith", implying that it is a type of blind leap we must take. Not really saying it outright, but meaning that very thing just the same. I ask you what is true faith? "Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things unseen." When we are making ourselves sensitive to the word of God. and Listening for what the Holy Spirit is telling us, we can then begin to make decisions that reflect who God is. When we are walking in constant wonder if what we are doing is "God's will", maybe we aren't in it!? How many times this week have you STOPPED doing what you are doing in order to just LISTEN to God? "Oh but there's so much to do and I have a billion things to get done before such-and-such a date", you respond... Maybe that's why we are always in such wonder if "this is what God wants of me"! You ever wonder why we are always so BUSY? I propose to you that it is the doing of the devil himself. He has lost the battle in your eternal state. But maybe he still won't give up on doing his best to thwart yours and my effectiveness for Christ! What does the word BUSY stand for...? Being Under Satan's Yoke...? Possibly! Tell me all the things you did this last week. You say "I can't remember most of it, but I've been BUSY!" There's my proof! Let's stop and listen for once...!
Now that I've ranted a bit, let me finish what I started in Pt. 1!
 Value... Not days before I begun this post, I was asked a very pointed question by my savior. I guess I should have seen it coming in the light of what all has been sticking out to me in scriptures and how our "world" (country) is changing. This question is one that I believe Christ has, is or will ask each and every one of us at one point. I wonder what your response will be? And will it be a truthful, honest answer pulled from the depth of your soul. Christ asks... "Are you willing... to leave it all behind... not just a clean house and warm bed... but the ones you have come to love, respect, admire, and care for? If I(Christ) asked you to drop everything... your job, pursuit of good things, hope of your own family, would you do it for me? If the things you desired most in this world (companionship, friendship) needed to be released, could you let go? If I(Christ) wished that you go somewhere and do something that you have never known before, will you follow? I (CHRIST) want to know if you would do it for me? Remember... I gave up so much more than you ever could! Not to brag or anything (although you know I can in complete righteousness). I left my comfortable home, where Angels worshiped me. Where I, without a shadow of a doubt, possessed all the power in the world. Yet because of my love for you, came down to the place you live. Became like you in order to show my exceeding power and love toward you. I saved you from your depraved state and brought you into my kingdom of glorious light. You now have hope... Only because of me! I know the tangible things are what you really seem to relate with more than the spiritual, unseen, eternal things. But would you do this for me? Could you find it in your heart to follow me with no reserve? Willing to give up the comforts and desires you have in order to be a part in building my kingdom that will last for all eternity? Remember... I don't NEED you! I can do it all on my own. But imagine what an amazing tool you could be in my tool shed. Most likely not the sharpest, but useful just the same. Will you "value" my kingdom above all else?
I'm not afraid to admit it... That was a long hard couple of hours! Even though King David said it many times, I never thought a man could swim in his bed because of so many tears. I mean... who in his right mind would be willing to leave his deepest desires, valued relationships and comfort at the door in order to face discomfort, pain, persecution, and so many other things that require constant dependence on something besides self? The fight seems ludicrous doesn't it? But the question that remains is this... How selfish am I willing to be. I "say" I don't ever want to be selfish. But at what cost will I break? My conclusion is this... Oh my Lord! How can I, a simple man, redeemed by your own blood, released from sin and death, reinstated as a joint heir with Christ, and loved with an unconditional love ever say NO? If need be, I WILL leave my comforts, follow you into the darkest caverns and face the fiercest foes in order to do your bidding. My life is not my own, I have been bought with a price, I am yours. As Isaiah said... "Here am I Lord! Send me!"
And then I wonder to myself... "What have I just said? I committed to a life of complete abandonment to self and the things of this world. How far will God actually ask me to go? This is the next scary thought! In a way, more fearsome than the idea of following without reserve! Now what will He truly ask of me? What have I gotten myself into?" I cannot let these thoughts take hold and keep me back from doing what the early church believers thought was "normal".
Goodbye World! I will follow Jesus all the way! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrVsbbGk29A
What is your resolution? What is your commitment? What will you do for His name?

Goodbye World... Pt. 2

------- Continued from Pt. 1 -------

Who am I to say what I am worth? How do I know what true value is? And what is it that true value is can be found in? When I look around me into the sea of faces, do I feel for them? Or am I indifferent? Looking into the eyes of a stranger, do I see the hurt, pain and anger? Do I see the joy, happiness, and love that eyes can never hide?
What is one thing that Jesus Christ is known for? In almost every instance noted in scriptures, he is noted to have "known their hearts" or "understood the heart". This is what he did on earth. As a man, he knows what we go through and feels, not for us, but WITH us. This is God who inconceivably humbled himself to take on the form of puny man. One reason being, to show how he cares intimately for each and every one of us.
I am a man, not worthy to bear His name. And yet, He has seen fit, to use me for His purposes. What possible good can come from any given man? We have "good" deeds and intentions many times. Yet even the dictionary defines "good" as something that meets up with a standard of character. What is that standard? How can that standard possibly be derived from humanity when most every single being has a separate definition of what is permissible and what is not? I pose to you there must be something beyond complete human understanding, that is unchanging, unwavering and unrelenting. Once again we come back to my God who is all three of these, and more. Do you know Him?
You may have answered yes. You may have answered no. If your response was the latter (no) please at least read the book of genesis and then John in the Bible. Give it a chance and see what he's all about. But if you've answered the former (yes), I ask you once again... "Do you KNOW Him? Who is He to you?" You say "my savior". I ask, "Do you KNOW Him?" You answer "Sure, he's my God!" Yet again, I ask, "Do you KNOW Him? You respond "He's my Lord!" I say, "Hmmm, do you KNOW Him?" You're thinking that this is beginning to get old. Get to the point. But you graciously answer "He's my everything". I say... "Oh, really? Is He?"

------- To be continued -------

Goodbye world...

Have you ever been asked to leave everything you know to be good, fun and comfortable in order to push someone else's agenda? What we hold so dearly in this life of ours can be (most of the time) so good for us. And yet not always the best.

 The people we know so well are those who have invested into our lives. And most, without thought of self gain or preservation. They are the people who care. From the parent/s who raised us with his/her sweat and blood, tears and laughter, reproof and heartfelt encouragement. To the brother/s and sister/s who grew up with us having to deal with our quirks and humor, annoyance and pain, arguments and agreements. Even our stated disdain of each other, yet we know in our heart of hearts, we care deeply for them. From the friends we have gained, who laugh and joke, cry and feel, encourage and challenge us to walk in a manner worthy of what we are called to do. To the people we pass by on the street. The ones we view as "strange" or interesting, ugly or pretty/cute, falling apart or having it all together. Without these, where would we be? These are the people who have molded us in so many ways, innumerable to count.

Life is so full of new things, it is impossible to say... "I've done it all". Each day is a time of learning, taking in the sights and getting to know your surroundings that you have come to have many memories of. Becoming attached to the things around us is oh so easy. It is so good to feel at home in a certain place! To have a stomping ground where you feel at ease. To recognize a street corner or park that brings me back to home. I can relax in place of familiarity. The smell of the coffee shop on the corner or that bakery I pass just down the street. What is life without some kind of consistency? It is so hard to imagine or handle!

Remember all the memories made as a child? Going out on walks or hikes with the family. Or going to the lake for a blast on the water. Maybe playing "army" out in the back 40 with your big brothers. Or playing pranks on your sister/s because you knew they would have the BEST reactions. Playing dodge ball on roller-blades  or digging out a fort in the sand at the beach. Those were the good memories!

Then come the "not so good" memories... The punishments for being caught in the act of disobedience or rebellion. The arguments or fights (physical or verbal) between siblings. Getting the short end of the stick because "you're younger". Or even just losing a loved one to the process of life and death. They are all burned into my memory. Whether I like it or not!

Beginning when we are young, we have a chance to learn. Some more than others. And some quicker than others. I look back and think "Wow... I got to do all that?" Harvesting wood, Gardening, Learning to mow a lawn, Chicken farm, Bucking Hay, Ultimate Frisbee  Volleyball, Many other sports, Construction, Horse training, Schooling(pre-K through College) HVAC training, Mission trips, Travel, Mud Caving, Skydiving, Skiing/Snowboarding, White water rafting, Paintballing, and the list goes on... What a privileged person I am! Among the top 30% of wealthy and privileged people in the world... And what am I doing with it?

------- To Be Continued -------