Tuesday, April 13, 2010

What's Important?

Luke 9:25-26 - or what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

In the grand scheme of life, how important is it really to have many possessions or all the riches of life? Oh, God has no problem blessing us. And some are blessed with more than others. Why is just another mystery of God. Which is more important, though, having all the riches of the world or everlasting life after we leave this world? Can we easily give up our worldly things or would we struggle a lot if we lost them?

I think about the Israelites as they wandered in the desert for forty years with only the possessions given to them by the people of Egypt (and it was God that brought this about). I don't believe they encountered many towns or villages during their wandering, though, where bartering for food or clothing or anything would have taken place. God supplied all their needs...including keeping their clothing and sandals from wearing out. (Deuteronomy 29:5) And Philippians 4:19 reminds us that...
God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. HIS riches...whatever He chooses to give.

So that brings me to what should be the most important thing in our lives...our knowledge and acknowledgement that God is important in our lives. How many of us really do think about God each day? How many of us thank Him for yet another breath? How many of us thank Him each day for the little things He has given us? How many of us find comfort that He graces our presence, speaks to us, watches over us in ways we cannot imagine? Is this not important? The Word tells us that "all these things" are added to us when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)

And then are we ashamed of Him? Do we shrink back and choose not to bring up His name in conversation? Those words above should be etched into our hearts. If we are ashamed...the Son of Man will be ashamed of him. Matthew 7:21 shows us what happens if we do not acknowledge Him or do not do His will:
 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." This includes acknowledging Him, not being ashamed of Him.

The world we grew up in is quickly changing. Disaster looms as God is quickly being replaced with other things...our own personal desires. Tragedies erupt nearly daily somewhere and I wonder if it isn't God wanting us to look to Him. Some people realize what's happening, some just believe it's a natural change in the culture, others don't have a clue. Those who see it from a biblical view know exactly what's happening. It is both agonizing and exciting. Agonizing because we see evil taking over and we know it will not get much better. We can see life as we once knew it being stripped away. Exciting because the Bible tells us in the last days (before Christ returns) this has been prophesied. 2Timothy 3:1 tells us that there will be terrible times in the last days. I think we are seeing some terrible times...but still not the worst.

I watched a few minutes of a program the other night where actress Jane Seymour told of a close call she had with death. After an allergic reaction to an antibiotic she said,
"I saw the white light and I saw, from the corner of the room, them trying to resuscitate me...it did change my whole life, because, when you die, I realized, you take nothing with you, except for what you've done." I had hoped she might have had an encounter God in this incident, but if she did she's not telling! What I do know is what matters in life is what we do, but even more importantly our relationships...first with God then with others. Then it is important what we do with our lives as God as our center, how we let others know how important God is in our lives. It all starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If we cling to the things of this world they become another form of captivity. God can take things away at a moment's notice, whether it be life or things. If God is our center loss of things is not as bad because you still have, and always will have, His presence to see you through. There is still a hope for our future. I'm not saying we won't go through some hard feelings of loss but I think recovery will be faster when our focus turns from loss to Who is standing beside you to strengthen you.

So, what's important? The things of this world or the things of God? Saving (and living) our life in the world or losing it for a relationship with Jesus? Weigh the consequences if you choose the world over the Almighty God who wants no more than for you to acknowledge Him as the Master of your soul.



Luke 9:24 - For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

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