2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Now we look forward with
confidence to our heavenly bodies, realizing that every moment we spend
in these earthly bodies is time spent away from our eternal home in
heaven with Jesus. We know these things are true by believing, not by
seeing. And we are not afraid but are quite content to die, for then we
will be at home with the Lord. So our aim is to please him always in
everything we do, whether we are here in this body or away from this
body and with him in heaven. For we must all stand before Christ to be
judged and have our lives laid bare—before him. Each of us will receive
whatever he deserves for the good or bad things he has done in his
earthly body.
The Living
Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All
rights reserved.
Spring Break is upon us…and for some
of you, it may already be happening. I hear people talk all the time
about longing for the beach…or a tropical island. Some prefer a
cruise. And in light of all that we have experienced in recent months,
more than a few people have said to us, “You two need to get away
somewhere and relax!”
Can I tell you something? I’ve been on
those kinds of trips. I’ve played on a sandy beach and sailed on a
cruise ship. I’ve skied in snowy mountains and relaxed by a roaring
fire. I’ve enjoyed several days of dining out and having someone else do
the cooking and dish washing. And what I have discovered is that, for
me, nothing compares to home. And ultimately the only place the grass
will truly be greener for me is in the real Paradise…Heaven!
Have
you heard the phrase, “I need a vacation from my vacation!”? It’s true
for many of us…the “earthly pleasures” we seek never quite satisfy.
And they won’t – they can’t! Nothing will compare to what we
experience in Heaven. But here’s the thing…what we do with our earthly
time matters greatly. How we serve, how we react and respond…it all
matters. If we mope around and gripe and complain about our everyday
existence in this earthly life, we are not focused on pleasing God.
Our
daily routine may be dull and boring…or fraught with disappointments
and difficulties. Yes, there are horrific things happening all around
us. Let’s be honest, this earthly life can be pretty crummy at times.
But what matters is how we respond to our circumstances…what we show
others. I am not suggesting that we be phonies…I am reminding us to
stand strong in the LORD!
I know I am preaching to the choir in
many instances…but I am also yanking some of us up by the bootstraps –
myself included! It is time for us to get up and get going…to ask,
“What would you have me do with this, LORD?” The time is NOW to build
our “portfolio” for Heaven…to fill it with the countless ways that we
have glorified God and demonstrated His love and care through the
teachings of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for each of us.
There
is nothing wrong with earthly vacations…or looking forward to them.
But we must always be even more focused on our final destination – and
how we prepare for Heaven. SOMEDAY, each one of us will stand at
Heaven’s gate…present before God and accountable for everything we did –
and didn’t do – on this earth. Your “ticket to Paradise” will be
punched…but not before a “performance review” is conducted. What will
you have to say for yourself…and what will God have to say to you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label making the most of our time on earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label making the most of our time on earth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for July 7, 2015
Hebrews 11:13-16
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by perission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of a family member’s graduation. This graduate was the grand-daughter of some dear friends of my Mam-ma Polly. She considered this couple and their children to be “like family.” I commented that Mam-ma would have loved the photos and seeing this beautiful young woman. For a brief moment, I was sad that I couldn’t take my phone and share these images with her. And this is one of many times I have thought, “I must tell Mam-ma”…or “Wouldn’t Daddy love to see the great-grandchildren do XYZ”…or “How I wish Greg’s dad had lived to see a particular change in our community.”
It seems like I frequently have experiences that I wish to share and/or enjoy with a loved one who is already in heaven. And yet, I realize that there is not a single event that would be worthy of their return. They would not come back to this earth for all of the celebrations and momentous occasions in the world…because Heaven is just that much better. I honestly believe this.
This scripture passage tells us that those who truly trust in God and believe in His promises don’t put a whole lot of stock in earthly events. There are countless wonderful, exciting, exhilarating events in our lives…winning contests or receiving awards…graduations…first jobs…engagements…weddings…first homes…the birth of babies…and so many other milestones and special occasions. But none of these compares to what awaits us in Heaven…and I am 1000% confident that those who have already been received into Jesus’ arms would not even think of returning to earth for something they have “missed.”
You’ve probably heard people say that the more people they “lose,” the better Heaven looks…that they now have more loved ones in Heaven than they have on earth. And I will admit that I look forward to Heaven a lot more now than I did a few decades ago before so many friends and family members passed. But here’s the thing…God doesn’t want us to live in the land of “Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda.” He doesn’t want us to put too much stock in the things of this world…but He also doesn’t want us to have regrets.
God wants us to live every single minute of each day with purpose…confident that we are hearing from Him and operating in His will. He wants us to be busy doing what He has planned for us…accomplishing His goals and sharing the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter through our words and actions. When He gets ready for us to join Him in Heaven, He doesn’t want us to spend one second thinking, “But I haven’t seen this”…or “I haven’t done that!” God wants our faith to be so strong and unwavering that we say, “If You’re ready for me, LORD…then I am ready to come Home to You!”
It takes a lot of faith to say this…and also to live with focus and intention in the days that we have been given on this earth. Where do you stand? Are you looking – and living – for your true Home? Isn’t it about time you started doing exactly that?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by perission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of a family member’s graduation. This graduate was the grand-daughter of some dear friends of my Mam-ma Polly. She considered this couple and their children to be “like family.” I commented that Mam-ma would have loved the photos and seeing this beautiful young woman. For a brief moment, I was sad that I couldn’t take my phone and share these images with her. And this is one of many times I have thought, “I must tell Mam-ma”…or “Wouldn’t Daddy love to see the great-grandchildren do XYZ”…or “How I wish Greg’s dad had lived to see a particular change in our community.”
It seems like I frequently have experiences that I wish to share and/or enjoy with a loved one who is already in heaven. And yet, I realize that there is not a single event that would be worthy of their return. They would not come back to this earth for all of the celebrations and momentous occasions in the world…because Heaven is just that much better. I honestly believe this.
This scripture passage tells us that those who truly trust in God and believe in His promises don’t put a whole lot of stock in earthly events. There are countless wonderful, exciting, exhilarating events in our lives…winning contests or receiving awards…graduations…first jobs…engagements…weddings…first homes…the birth of babies…and so many other milestones and special occasions. But none of these compares to what awaits us in Heaven…and I am 1000% confident that those who have already been received into Jesus’ arms would not even think of returning to earth for something they have “missed.”
You’ve probably heard people say that the more people they “lose,” the better Heaven looks…that they now have more loved ones in Heaven than they have on earth. And I will admit that I look forward to Heaven a lot more now than I did a few decades ago before so many friends and family members passed. But here’s the thing…God doesn’t want us to live in the land of “Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda.” He doesn’t want us to put too much stock in the things of this world…but He also doesn’t want us to have regrets.
God wants us to live every single minute of each day with purpose…confident that we are hearing from Him and operating in His will. He wants us to be busy doing what He has planned for us…accomplishing His goals and sharing the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter through our words and actions. When He gets ready for us to join Him in Heaven, He doesn’t want us to spend one second thinking, “But I haven’t seen this”…or “I haven’t done that!” God wants our faith to be so strong and unwavering that we say, “If You’re ready for me, LORD…then I am ready to come Home to You!”
It takes a lot of faith to say this…and also to live with focus and intention in the days that we have been given on this earth. Where do you stand? Are you looking – and living – for your true Home? Isn’t it about time you started doing exactly that?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2015
June 20 ~ Luke 17:28-30
“It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That’s how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have to admit…the massacre of nine people at the “Mother Emmanuel” A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina last Wednesday evening has caused a major shift in my thinking…and not in the way you might think. I had grown comfortable – and complacent – in a particular area of my faith. Sure, I love Jesus…and He is front and center (most of the time) in my thoughts and actions. Yes, I am certain that Heaven will be my eternal home…that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…and that God is guiding my steps (though He may occasionally wring his hands and ask, “What on earth is she thinking?!”)
The much-needed “jolt” that this tragic event of June 17th provided for me is a reminder of 1) how precarious and temporary this life is, and 2) Who is really in control! See, while I am ready for heaven in many ways, I realized that I have held subconscious thoughts that nothing will happen to me, because I still have work to do on this earth. There are family members to nurture and care for…there are dozens of “important” projects to complete. I have photos to scan and devos to write and children to drive to swim lessons and VBS… and so many more “important” things to accomplish! But this week, I’ve very clearly felt God showing me that I am indeed important to Him…but I am not indispensible. In other words, there is nothing about me that makes me more special than anyone else…more extraordinary…or more useful.
So when I saw a state senator and pastor swept to heaven in the middle of a sermon, I knew that the Son of Man can be revealed to any of us in a heartbeat. When I learned that a young man who just graduated from college has “graduated” to heaven…I realized that the plans we have cannot hold a candle to those of God. When I heard about the seven other church members who nurtured a hate-filled, angry, malicious young man for more than an hour – and he shot them dead anyway…I realized that when God is ready for me, there won’t be a thing that I can do about it. And more importantly - I won’t want to!
So I am looking at my life through a new lens…and I encourage you to do the same. I am thinking more about every word and action…because they might be my last. Did I offer kindness and a word from God to a would-be killer…or more likely, to someone so mired in depression or difficulties that he/she was facing a mental or emotional breakdown and considering suicide? Did I waste time checking social media or watching a dumb reality TV show instead of playing with my little niece and nephews…doing something with my husband or other loved ones…or visiting someone who is sick, grieving or lonely? Did I pay close enough attention to the people around me…both those I know and love – and those I’ve merely shared space with at the grocery check-out line, passed in a hallway at church, or swam next to at the community pool?
Have my comments on social media been kind and reflected God’s word and will? Have I taken advantage of the minutes/hours/days/weeks/years that God has granted me on this earth? Have I been like Lot…so busy carrying on and having a good time that I didn’t see the firestorm that was brewing…or recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? If you and I were staring down the barrel of a gun as we attended a Bible study or prayer meeting – and given a moment to reflect before the trigger was pulled – what would we be the focal point of our last thoughts?
Are you ready for heaven? Are you aware that the time of your departure is NOT your decision to make…and are you truly at peace with this? We have seen this week that even the most faithful among us are not indispensible when God is ready for us to sit at Jesus’ feet. When our perspective shifts and we change our attitude, we can start to really make the most of the time that we have left – and the blessings that God has given us. I know I plan to…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That’s how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have to admit…the massacre of nine people at the “Mother Emmanuel” A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina last Wednesday evening has caused a major shift in my thinking…and not in the way you might think. I had grown comfortable – and complacent – in a particular area of my faith. Sure, I love Jesus…and He is front and center (most of the time) in my thoughts and actions. Yes, I am certain that Heaven will be my eternal home…that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…and that God is guiding my steps (though He may occasionally wring his hands and ask, “What on earth is she thinking?!”)
The much-needed “jolt” that this tragic event of June 17th provided for me is a reminder of 1) how precarious and temporary this life is, and 2) Who is really in control! See, while I am ready for heaven in many ways, I realized that I have held subconscious thoughts that nothing will happen to me, because I still have work to do on this earth. There are family members to nurture and care for…there are dozens of “important” projects to complete. I have photos to scan and devos to write and children to drive to swim lessons and VBS… and so many more “important” things to accomplish! But this week, I’ve very clearly felt God showing me that I am indeed important to Him…but I am not indispensible. In other words, there is nothing about me that makes me more special than anyone else…more extraordinary…or more useful.
So when I saw a state senator and pastor swept to heaven in the middle of a sermon, I knew that the Son of Man can be revealed to any of us in a heartbeat. When I learned that a young man who just graduated from college has “graduated” to heaven…I realized that the plans we have cannot hold a candle to those of God. When I heard about the seven other church members who nurtured a hate-filled, angry, malicious young man for more than an hour – and he shot them dead anyway…I realized that when God is ready for me, there won’t be a thing that I can do about it. And more importantly - I won’t want to!
So I am looking at my life through a new lens…and I encourage you to do the same. I am thinking more about every word and action…because they might be my last. Did I offer kindness and a word from God to a would-be killer…or more likely, to someone so mired in depression or difficulties that he/she was facing a mental or emotional breakdown and considering suicide? Did I waste time checking social media or watching a dumb reality TV show instead of playing with my little niece and nephews…doing something with my husband or other loved ones…or visiting someone who is sick, grieving or lonely? Did I pay close enough attention to the people around me…both those I know and love – and those I’ve merely shared space with at the grocery check-out line, passed in a hallway at church, or swam next to at the community pool?
Have my comments on social media been kind and reflected God’s word and will? Have I taken advantage of the minutes/hours/days/weeks/years that God has granted me on this earth? Have I been like Lot…so busy carrying on and having a good time that I didn’t see the firestorm that was brewing…or recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? If you and I were staring down the barrel of a gun as we attended a Bible study or prayer meeting – and given a moment to reflect before the trigger was pulled – what would we be the focal point of our last thoughts?
Are you ready for heaven? Are you aware that the time of your departure is NOT your decision to make…and are you truly at peace with this? We have seen this week that even the most faithful among us are not indispensible when God is ready for us to sit at Jesus’ feet. When our perspective shifts and we change our attitude, we can start to really make the most of the time that we have left – and the blessings that God has given us. I know I plan to…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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