THE PROCESS TO EVERLASTING!
Sunday’s Monday
I can vividly remember as a small child walking in the snow with my dad. As we casually walked through the backyard, I would try to walk in his footsteps and couldn’t. No matter if I jumped, I was just too small to stand in one step and make it to the other. I remember one day I fell trying to reach his enormous stride and started crying, he stopped, turned, and picked me up, asking what was wrong. I told him of my dilemma in not being able to walk in his footsteps. He softly smiled with a smothered chuckle and explained that it has to do with growth and maturity. He told me, he wasn’t always big and that he used to feel the same way trying to walk in his father’s footsteps. He said, “just because I can’t do some things right now doesn’t mean I will not be able to do them later as I grow physically and mature mentally and spiritually.” I’ll admit, these may not have been his exact wording, after all, it happened 65 years ago, but it’s what’s stuck with me through the years.
Looking back at my life I can see clearly that it was his way of telling me this life is a process. “A training ground (if you will) for what is yet to come.” Recounting the events of when I first started my walk with Jesus, I took the same approach as when I walked with my dad as a child. I struggled, fell, and often got hurt trying to step into each footstep left by Jesus. I failed to remember what I was taught by my dad. I was mentally too young and spiritually too immature to make such life-altering strides. I allowed the world to pump up my ego through the tools of the church. With their preaching and teaching, I soon became convinced I had everything I’d ever need. So, I went into full attack mode against an enemy I didn’t understand, and defeat quickly overtook me. I completely missed Matthew 4:19 (ESV), And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Which says to me, follow me and learn!
I’ve always struggled with learning as I felt a duty to complicate and exaggerate every task. I used to fill in any gaps with my own interpretations and all blanks were left to the discretion of my ignorance. I was a mental wreck and a spiritual cripple, simply trying hard to be what I thought the church expected. I had no idea that I was and am walking the path to everlasting (heaven or hell). I guess I knew and didn’t realize I knew, that from the moment we’re born into this world we’re destined to exit and move into eternity. Ergo, like it or not we’re living eternally today! Matthew hit on this in Matthew 25:45-46 (ESV), 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Hence my title, The Process To Everlasting! Our eternity started with our first breath and contrary to popular belief, there is no end! However, we can choose where we spend our eternity.
We each seriously need to learn to live the KISS method, KEEP IT SPIRITUALLY SIMPLE! After 30 years of spending time with Jesus, the one thing I’m sure of is I’ll never on this earth walk with the strides of Jesus however He hasn’t asked me to, He asks only that I follow Him. Obeying His instructions, whether in written form, spiritual nudging, or audible voice. We are to diligently seek Him when we’re unsure or have doubts about our marching orders. God’s word advises us to stay within the counsel of His chosen few! Following Jesus must be a total commitment made from one’s very soul. This is alluded to in Luke 11:39 (ESV), And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. Our outward appearance only presents what is in the mind while leaving the heart concealed from the eyes of man. Just as the cup pleases many with its appearance it remains spiritually unacceptable to God. But for those whose hearts and minds adorn that of Jesus, they authentically take on an undeniable spiritual appearance that cannot be concealed.
People fail God’s process for many different reasons and willingly choose to live within the reign and rule of this world’s unpleasantries. Truth is, no one has to! One can rest all their grievances on Jesus and seek to grow and mature in His wisdom. Your past may be overwhelming, your present may feel insufferable, facing a future without hope. But God is The God of restoration, and He can restore you to that which you were created by Him to be. You can be made whole, at one, with oneself and Jesus.
Pray with me, Psalm 51:1-2 (ESV), 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! I affirm, 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV), but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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