I have spent some time this past weekend thinking about the things that THIS world has to offer. Things that most people work their lives away to have. Things like, extra funds, excess cash, beautiful homes, perfect physical appearance, and everything our hearts desire....why do we do this? Here are a few reasons I came up with:
We long to have time to relax, refresh, and just forget about the worries of life
We desire to escape
We want to be comfortable in life (not have discomfort in our life)
We want to be satisfied and think we will be by MORE.
We want to have all that we can have that this life has to offer.
Now let me preface this by saying, being wise with the money God has given you is NOT a bad thing..(putting your money into investments so it can grow..) but what I am saying is that when we try to find all our satisfaction in earthly things that do not last, we begin to have a problem.
Even the best of vacations, come to end. Even the loveliest girl, eventually ages and some of her youth will fade. Even the most gorgeous of homes become "old hat" after a while of living in them. And yes, all that this world has to offer to us as "good" will pass away, because friend, WE will pass away.
We will end. AND so this is why we try to live it up, live to the fullest, "You only have one life to live" type of mentality.
I for one know how this feels, and for me, my quest for earthly beauty, earthly satisfaction only led me to discontentedness. The more I had, the more I wanted. The more I studied the earthly fashions and that sparkled, the more I wanted, and the more I spent and the more discontent I grew. Oh what a vicious cycle! Someone will always be more beautiful than someone else, and some person will always have more than someone else...and most of us, are simply distraught by this fact and we strive all the more. But to no avail. It is a losing battle. So some give up, and some try harder till they die. I don't mean to sound depressing. I realize that this may, I would rather use the word, "sobering" because that is what this vicious cycle is. It is sobering. We want what we cannot have, and we live, strive and kill for what we cannot obtain, until the day the striving ceases, and the war ends. What is this day? This day could either be the day of your physical body, and you then perish. Or, it could the be the day of your introduction of the other way. The Way. The truth, and the Light.
You see for me, my striving ceased when I met Jesus. When I heard, read and understood as I was told that Jesus, made a way out for me to stop my striving. To stop the endless cycle of work that would eventually run me into the ground from my intense desire for perfection.
Perfection is not something that can be obtained, but I do have a way to be viewed as "spotless". Are you interested. Are you at least a little interested to hear about another way? Another option? A different path? As I mentioned my striving ceased on the day that I met Jesus, my Lord and Savior. My white Knight who rode in and saved the day. He said that I no long had to strive and toil in my own strength for an inheritance that would eventually and most assuredly pass away. Jesus said this, "Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away..." So what He is telling me, is true. And I wanted to know more about a life where He said, "My grace is sufficient for you.. " and I no longer have to do everything in my own strength. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." So now, I'm thinking this, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and plans to give you a hope and future." -Jeremiah 29:11
A hope and a future? A secure future... one that will not fade. One that will not lose it's sparkle. One that is ETERNAL.
"I want in" I said. And so, I began to explore this other option. The option that lay in the nail pierced hands of Jesus. The one who did indeed die so that this other way could be made available to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The man from the Bible, who came as a baby, and died on a cross, who's Father is God, and who left behind for me and you the Word of God/The Bible and the gift and the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide me, if only I say to Him, "I want you, I need you, I'm sick of striving on my own,,," I was so tired.. Tired of trying to do it. You know what I mean, I know you have felt this way too..: It's Monday, another week of 9-5... to what you hope will end in the making of enough funds to get you a little more of what you hope will make you feel happy...make you feel peaceful. Make you feel content, secure..worth something, make you feel as though your life has meaning and purpose.
Can you relate? Do you feel like your life has depth, purpose, meaning and point? If not, why?
Ask these questions. They are worth asking.
I asked them of myself and I realized I was so tired. Tired of striving, searching, seeking, sobbing and longing for something that I felt I had no more strength to do..in my own strength.
So this is what I said, "Jesus, God of the Bible, if you are the real deal, and what you say is true, then would you please help me, show me, speak to me and take me up out of the endless cycle of endless striving that I am in right now. Help. me. out."
And He did. Oh how He did. My white Knight, on a horse, rushed in and little by little as I read the Bible, studied His words, and began to obey it's teachings I felt peace like a river flood into my heart and life, and for a moment I stopped and thought and said, "I think this is working..." And so began my journey, and my work for a Kingdom where the glory does not fade, the riches of my inheritance will not spoil and for work that has purpose.
I follow the lead of the Father of the Bible, and I listen. Each day I open up and read and learn and listen and become more and more at peace, and more and more fulfilled.
What a journey.
I want what cannot fade. Do you feel the same? If so...pray as I did, and accept what only Jesus can offer. Grace. Freedom. Hope. Peace. CONTENTMENT. Another way. The only REAL fulfilling way. Call out to a God who hears. He will answer.
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