eternity

Mouse in the House

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We have a mouse problem in our house. Yes, we’ve seen mice. It seems they like to taunt us, running to and fro throughout the living room as we sit and watch. We hear them feasting on the poison bait that we’ve set out for them. If we’re lucky, we’ll find the dead bodies the next morning. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. I’m thankful that we haven’t noticed any bad odors, but I wonder where they go to die if not on my living room floor.

But now I’m hoping we’ve turned a corner for the good. I don’t want to be braggadocious, but we may have found a solution to keep our house rodent free. We’ve discovered a product that is supposed to repel all rodents with a high frequency sound that isn’t heard by humans. The first night these night lights were plugged in, we heard a bit of mouse noise but didn’t see any mice. I want to say that so far it seems to be working. We’re hoping to keep the winning streak going.

The problem with the mice is that we don’t know how they’re getting into the house. We’ve seen evidence of them in the kitchen, and we’ve seen them dead and alive in the living room. Oh. We had the same problem last year and never figured it out. But this year, we’ve already seen more mice in one month than we did all last winter. That’s a problem in my book. We did plug one hole in the kitchen with steel wool, so hopefully that problem is solved. But we have no idea how they are getting into the living room.

I walked into one room the other day, and I thought I noticed a bad odor. It smelled like a rotting carcass. It’s rather faint and intermittent, so I’m not sure if it’s real or imagined. If it’s real, then the evidence is hidden and I’ll have to find it. I’m not looking forward to that. I’ve started an investigation, but I haven’t found anything. I’m afraid to do a thorough search, because this is one time I don’t really want to find what I’m looking for.

I can’t say that our house is free of mice. It may take some time and some waiting. We’ll have to watch and look for evidence. Or maybe we’ll hear a mouse but not see one. It’s a bit of a wait and see time for us right now. Time will tell if these new magical night lights work long term.

Then just yesterday morning, as I was walking to the kitchen I saw it. A dead mouse near the front door. At least it was dead. That’s what I tell myself. When we installed the repellant night lights, I knew we might need to get a few more to thoroughly block the mice. Now I know where I need to place a few more. I’m glad they found the new treasure trove of poison traps in the laundry room that did the work. But my goal is complete eradication of these pests. I don’t want them lurking anywhere in my house.

I also noticed a couple of days ago that the poison trap I had set out near the front door last year was empty. It wasn’t touched last year, but I guess the mice are hungry this year. I need to replenish my supply of bait.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14

When we repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Christ, we are free from sin. The burden of carrying the weight of unforgiven sins has left us. We are free. But here’s the thing. We can’t keep on sinning. We must turn our back on any sins that had a stranglehold on us and walk away from that life. Otherwise, we’re like the mice that keep returning. We don’t need to return to our old way of life, because we live by another standard. We live by biblical standards and beliefs once we’ve rejected sin. We can’t just dodge sin. We must reject all acts of sin in our lives.

As new believers, we need to put barriers in our life to keep us from veering back to sin. We’re living a different life now. In this new forgiven life, we’re now living under the crucifixion of Christ.

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. Galatians 6:14

Just as I’m unsure yet if I’m smelling a rotting mouse carcass, sin can sneak in and entice us when we least expect it. The thing about sin is that we can’t wait to sniff it out. We must remove it immediately before it takes hold in our lives. Oh. We’ll notice the odor all right, because it doesn’t come off as a fine fragrance. It’s rotten to the core. And now that I know the mice have found a new path of travel in my house, I need to button down that area with more nightlights to ward them off. The same goes for my spiritual life. I need to equip myself every day with the full armor of God. Otherwise, a temptation to sin could catch me off guard.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. ~Oswald Chambers

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:12-14

Pickleball Drills

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I signed up to take another pickleball class. Call me crazy. This class was for intermediate players. Some people in the class had taken it multiple times, which tells me that they’re serious about their pickleball. I enjoy playing as a hobby, but I don’t see it overtaking my life. It’s a fun way to stay active. But some people I’ve met take this game way too seriously. And now I’m in a class with them. Talk about intimidating. Fortunately, the instructor assigns a group of four or five people to each court. Then we stay with our same group that day. So I haven’t had to play against the “good” players. Oh. Some of the ones I played against were good and had a bent toward being serious about their game. Then there were people like me. We’re just there to learn more, improve our game and have fun.

There are six indoor courts with a different drill set up on each court. The participants are assigned a specific court to start on and then rotate to the next court and so on every fifteen minutes. After the sixth drill, each group plays a short game. It’s a good set up. The time goes quickly, and some drills are more complicated than others. Everyone has an opportunity to practice each drill multiple times in their allotted fifteen minutes. Each instructor gives individual feedback along the way, as needed. It’s still intimidating, but it’s good to gain more in depth knowledge of the game.

As I’ve regularly played pickleball and taken classes throughout the past few months, I can say I’ve seen a bit of improvement in my playing. I’m still not great. I even hesitate to say I’m at an intermediate level, but who’s asking. I enjoy playing and getting some exercise. I need to stay active as I progress through these older years of life.

Here’s what I’ve noticed about other players. They come in all ages and sizes. Some choose to play every day. Others take one class and then don’t play very often. There’s an old saying that goes something like this. You get out of something what you put into it. And it’s true. I talked to one player last week who said she was embarrassed to say that she learned to play well over a year ago. But she hasn’t played regularly after that initial class. I could tell that her playing skill was similar to mine, whereas the woman who has been playing regularly for two years and has taken multiple classes plays at a much more advanced level.

During these classes, I’ve realized I had developed some bad habits in my game. The drills I was practicing were an attempt to break me of those poor moves I had adopted. It was painful to have to relearn new methods of play and to unlearn the old, easy and incorrect moves. It would have been much easier to continue to play poorly and complain about my bad pickleball moves than to unlearn them and relearn the correct moves. But I’m persevering and seeing improvement.

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. 2 Peter 3:18

I’ve noticed that just as in the effort someone puts into their pickleball skills, the same type of growth spurts and struggles also appear in a person’s spiritual life. Once a person becomes a Christian, they need to take steps to grow their faith and their relationship with God. We can’t just confess our sins and then do nothing else with our faith for the remainder of our days. We’ve just started the most important relationship of our lives, and there is work to do. Oh. Works won’t get us into heaven. I’m not saying that. I’m saying that we need to spend time getting to know God, and there are actions we need to take to do that.

The same steps that go into building a relationship with someone else applies to deepening our walk with God. These steps are rather simple, but we seem to avoid or ignore them. They may take a little bit of our time, which we deem so important. And time is valuable. But so are our souls. Some say marriage seems like an eternity, with all the ups and downs of a marital relationship. But true eternity is forever. And once we cross over the divide between our earthly life and death, we’re in eternity forever. So, we must choose today to strengthen our relationship with God to the best of our ability so we can have an amazing eternity with him.

Here are some simple steps to drawing closer to God. Read and study the Bible. Pray. Attend church. Build friendships with godly people. Memorize Bible verses. Join a small group to study the Bible, pray and fellowship together. Find a mentor who has walked their faith journey for years. And we should also share our faith with others.

The thing is. The pickleball instructors were once beginner players, just as I am. Along the way, they committed themselves to practice and drills over and over again. They played the game on a regular basis and didn’t quit when things got tough. And now they’re seasoned players and are coaching newbies like me.

The same goes for my spiritual life. I need to see improvement in my words and actions and thoughts. I need to see a renewing in the way I view the world. I must align all of my beliefs with biblical standards. If I’m going to say that God is the ultimate authority in my life, then I must bow my will to him and submit my all ways to him. I must run my desires through a biblical sieve. Do they pass the test of holy living or not? Oh. It won’t be easy, and I must be willing to bend and break. My will must not be above God’s will in anything I do or say. It’s all about submission to my heavenly Father.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

And then, once we’ve walked the baby steps and our faith has matured, it’s time for us to share the wealth. We can mentor and disciple other believers in their own faith journey. We can walk with other believers in their path of growth in Jesus Christ. We don’t need to walk this walk of faith alone. We need to come alongside others, just as our mentors walked with us through our journey. We must do the journey of faith with fellow believers. We’re not in this alone.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Facelift

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

A woman who has grown famous by pushing her daughters into fame has admitted to having her second facelift. She’ll be seventy soon, and I must say she looks beautiful. There are no more wrinkles on that pretty face of hers. Oh. Her first facelift was fifteen years ago, so it was time for a refresh, or so she says. And she admits that not everyone who is aging will go this route, but this is her way of aging gracefully. She goes under the knife to age gracefully. Think about that for a minute. But then. She’s worth millions or maybe billions, so she can do whatever she wants with the money she has earned by offering up her daughters to fame and fortune. Apparently, it’s working.

As everyone on this earth will face death, so too will this woman. Hopefully, that won’t happen anytime soon, but she isn’t invincible. She is continuing to age regardless of her efforts to hide it. Oh sure. She can hide behind her pretty smooth face and tell the world she’s aging gracefully. But she’s also had a hip replaced. Who knows what other health related issues she lives with that are kept under lock and key. But really. We don’t need to know her medical history. And now we know what we don’t need to know. Oh. Many suspected this last surgery. When you compare photos of her from earlier this year to her new photo shoot, there is an obvious difference. She’s proud of the way she looks. I guess she thinks she earned it. After all, her definition of aging gracefully seems to be working well for her.

And. She’s trying to profit off of her new look. She’s had t-shirts printed up by her son’s company to sell to women who want to be like her. There will be those who buy the shirt and wear it proudly. And some will probably be inspired to undergo unnecessary surgery, too.

This woman can have all the surgeries she wants, but underneath that smooth veneer she is still aging. Surgeries can only do so much to help her age gracefully. The cut of the knife won’t change her age. It will make her look like an older woman who’s trying to look younger. An older woman who’s afraid to accept the natural beauty in a wrinkled face or sagging body parts or stretchy skin. It happens to all of us. She wants to look as young and fresh as her daughters. Some people say she now looks like them. And others say she choreographs her life to be photo-ready at all times.

But does she know that keeping up with youth comes at a price. And I’m not just talking about a financial price. Does she still have any elasticity left in her skin, or was it all pulled too tight? She can probably afford anything money can buy, thanks to being the momager of her daughters’ careers. Her management of her girls has made at least one of them a billionaire. Reports indicate that she has helped her children start fifteen businesses. Fifteen. And according to industry sources, she gets a ten percent payout from everything her family does. Imagine.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The question I would ask is this. Has she had plastic surgery on her soul? Or. Is it still stained with unconfessed sin? Has she confessed her sins and repented of her sinful ways? Is she following the teachings of Jesus Christ? Does she even believe in God and his saving power?

One day she too will stand before her Maker and her life will be examined closely. It will be far too late for any type of spiritual surgery. What our Heavenly Father sees on that day will be what he bases her final judgment on. No going back. No physical surgery can fix what she will face in that meeting with her Maker. Regardless of how youthful she looks on that fateful day, God will be searching his records to see if her name is in the Book of Life.

The thing is. God sees this woman and he loves her so much. He isn’t interested in all the unneeded surgeries she puts herself through to make herself acceptable to society. He cares about what he sees on the inside of her. He cares so deeply about her soul and its condition. It isn’t important to him that she has millions of dollars stashed away, or that she owns multiple homes. He isn’t impressed with the nips and tucks. That isn’t what makes him love her. He loves her because she’s created in his image, and he wants her to want him. He’s jealous for her love and affection. He wants her to commit her life to him. She’s wasted so many years of her life living for herself. Making herself into an older woman who thinks she’s aging gracefully by cutting and smoothing out her skin won’t gain God’s approval. It isn’t smooth skin that will save her in the end. Doesn’t she know that?

God’s the Creator of the universe, and he’s the master surgeon when it comes to aging gracefully into eternity. He knows the only solution to an eternal life with him is eradicating the sinfulness of her life. Oh. She still has time to turn her life over to him. He’s still waiting. Patiently waiting. I wonder if she’ll ever give him the time of day as she schedules photo shoots and interviews and schemes up new business deals for her kids. Will she ever make time for God?

You may not be planning to have a face lift to stall the aging process. And you may not have repented of your sins. But there is still an opportunity for you to do so. As long as there is breath in your lungs, you can still turn to God. Don’t be deceived by the planning and scheming in today’s world. Don’t let your heart be hardened against God, but trust in him and repent today. While there is still time.

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” Hebrews 3:12-15

No Compromise

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Her question seemed innocent enough, yet it was charged with something much more than innocence. What would you call it? Selfishness? Immaturity? And she was dead serious when the words came out of her mouth. Here’s her question.

How do I compromise and still get what I want?

That’s the question for the ages, isn’t it? How do I compromise and still get what I want? Hmmm. Let’s think about that.

Many times in our relationship with God, we ask the same question. How do I toe the line biblically and still get what I want? How can I do my own thing and still be a Christian? How can I fit in with my non-Christian friends and coworkers, or whoever it is influencing me away from God, and still squeeze into heaven?

I’ve been taking walks through my small town in the cool morning hours. The other day, I walked down a couple of streets I had never visited. The yard of one of the houses is always immaculate. The grass is freshly mowed. The flowers are beautiful. The landscaping is perfect. But the house is on a very small lot. When I walked past the back of the house, I noticed what the owners don’t want others to see. The rusty fire pit leaning against an old, unused woodpile. The two locked cabinets holding valuable items. A shed that holds more unused items. Oh. This view is visible to the neighbors who live near them. But to those who drive by on the main road, the property looks amazing. One would never know what lies behind all the beauty unless they looked around the corner.

I don’t know if they’re even trying to hide all these items, but if they are it’s not working. They’re not fooling the neighbors who have to look at this lot of stuff they’ve “hidden” on such a small property. Oh. They’ve tried to keep it straightened up and organized. But they also have a deck, a tiki bar, a hot tub and more on their small lot. They also have a small privacy panel to obviously keep things private. But it’s just not working.

Do you ever wonder if others can see what you’re trying to keep hidden behind the facade of your Christian life? Do others see the real you as you walk into church looking like a Christian, yet you’ve never thought about God the entire week? Do others see the discarded hurt feelings? Or the bad attitude you’re desperately try to ignore? Do they notice your attempts at biblical knowledge when you don’t even open your Bible? Do they see the pride or envy? The jealousy? The gluttony?

I had to leave the house a few days ago to pick up a package I had ordered. I knew there would be others from the area collecting their orders, as well. I just hopped in my car and left the house without changing my clothes. And they were not really clothes to be worn in public. But I did it anyway. On the way, I hoped I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew. I didn’t want them to see me dressed in such a way.

Why was I so concerned that someone I knew might see me dressed in my stay at home clothes? Why didn’t it bother me that strangers would see me dressed this way? Why do I have double standards? What picture am I trying to present to those who know me versus total strangers?

If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-27

Don’t we know that we can’t have it both ways? We’re all in for Christianity or we’re all out. Being lukewarm isn’t going to cut it when it comes to our eternal destiny. Yet, somehow that’s the game too many of us try to play. And we may be fooled and very shocked to find ourselves in hell for eternity because we played the compromise game. And then it’s too late.

The good thing is. Now. Before it’s too late, we can get serious about our eternal destination. We can get serious about our relationship with Jesus Christ while we’re still breathing and on this earth. We don’t have to compromise, and it should never be an option. So. How do we do that? How do we decide once and for all that there is nothing that will compromise our faith?

In his teachings, Jesus told us that being his follower is more than just accepting an invitation to repent of our sins. Oh. He offered an invitation, all right. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives means that Jesus is priority number one and we are lesser than him. We must love Christ more than anything else in the world.

We can’t play games with the truth. Biblical truth must always be front and center in our lives. We can’t allow our goals and desires and ambitions to be guided by someone or something that doesn’t lead us closer to Jesus. We can’t allow ourselves to be easily influenced by the standards and values of nonbelievers.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are set apart to be holy for God. Not holy rollers. And not goody two shoes. We must choose to live godly lives. We must do more than respect and admire Jesus. We must be consistent in our relationship with Him. We have no option but to read, study and obey God’s word. And then we must apply what we’ve learned to living a life that pleases Him. And we must share our faith with others. It’s that simple. No compromise when living for Jesus.

We must put a stake in the ground when we’re tempted to compromise in any area of our faith. If we don’t, we’ll fall for even the smallest temptation. We’ll choose the low road instead of the high road. There is a way back to biblical living. But there may come a time when our hearts are too hardened to feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit. We won’t hear our guilty conscience.

But while it’s still today and we’re still aware of where we fall short in our walk with Christ, let’s vow to be more faithful. Eternity is for the long haul, and we have only once chance to enter heaven’s gate when we take our last breath. After that last breath, there’s no second chance or turning back.

Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not truly devoted to Jesus Christ. ~Oswald Chambers

The Pope is Dead, but Jesus is Alive

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The Pope is dead, but Jesus is alive. We can’t forget which of these two can actually forgive sins. We can’t forget which one died on a cross for the sins of all humanity and then rose from the dead. Nor can we forget which of these two is God and the other is not. We haven’t seen Pope Francis rise from the dead, and we won’t. He’s in eternity now and won’t be returning to this earth. On the other hand, Jesus was crucified on a cross and buried in a tomb. He arose from the dead on the third day and exited the tomb, never to return. And after his ascension to heaven, he is now building an eternal home for his faithful followers. The Pope cannot do this.

Pope Francis died the day after Easter. As the world was celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Pope was on his deathbed. After suffering a stroke that left him in a coma, he breathed his last. Jesus’ final breath was taken after having a gall-filled sponge pressed to his lips in a last ditch effort to curb his thirst. He then cried out, “It is finished.” His life was over.

Oh. Many may want to compare the two. The Pope and Jesus Christ. So…let’s compare them.

On Easter, Pope Francis took one last ride in his popemobile. Oh. He knew he wasn’t well, and he asked his caregiver if the ride was a good idea. And just hours before he breathed his last, he gave a tearful tribute to that caregiver with thanksgiving for the suggestion for that final ride. Those were his final spoken words.

Jesus’ last ride was on a donkey as he entered Jerusalem. Known as his Triumphal Entry, Jesus knew he was soon to be sacrificed for the sins of his people. As throngs lined the roadway, they threw their coats and palm branches in his path proclaiming, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” The entire city was in an uproar as he entered on the back of that borrowed donkey. When some in the crowd asked who he was, others shared that he was Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

The head of the Church didn’t die on Easter Monday, he actually rose from the dead the day before. Some may be confused about who the head of the Church Universal actually is. It isn’t anyone called Pope. The Pope is an elected official over the Roman Catholic church. He holds no sway on people’s eternal destiny. He can’t forgive anyone’s sins. He can’t heal anyone or raise them from the dead. Only Jesus Christ can do those things.

I’m not comparing the Pope and Jesus Christ to insinuate they’re identical. Not at all. The life and death of Jesus was planned and accomplished through the wishes of his Father. The life of Pope Francis played out for most years out of the public eye. His final years spent in the Vatican showed his true colors.

Oh. Each of these two men brought division. They just went about it in different ways.

As one writer said, Pope Francis was known to be a globalist and a socialist. Some believe he may have been a Marxist. He was very divisive and catered to the liberal wing of the Catholic church. He supported the climate change agenda, mass immigration, the LGBTQ agenda, and he pushed vaccines on the world. He was known to silence conservative voices within the church. Some say his positions aligned more with the Church of Satan than traditional Catholic values. Others have called his a “liquid” Catholicism and disruptive in ways that favored liberals. Pope Francis upset many with his push for a progressive acceptance of ideas the conservatives and the Catholic church had long opposed. He used his prominent position to push his ideas on global political issues, and he brought theological disruption to the Catholic church.

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14

I read a number of articles this week extolling the goodness of Pope Francis. Some praised the man, but many others said quite the opposite. One writer hopes that the new Pope isn’t stupid and is more aligned with traditional Catholicism. According to the statement from the Vatican, “he taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”

I’m only sharing what I’ve read about the man. I never met him.

A similar scenario played out in Jesus’ day of people either loving him or hating him.

Jesus was clear to tell us that his ministry was divisive because his teachings stirred up people’s lives. His message pitted one against another. Oh. That wasn’t necessarily his intention, but he knew that his teachings wouldn’t be popular with just everyone. He didn’t cater his message to specific groups. His message was the same wherever he traveled. He had no favorites. And he shared that people would be divided against each other because of the truth that he spoke. And he spoke it anyway. His message was one for the ages, and it’s as true and relevant today as it was the day he first shared it.

Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

But why did Jesus’ message bring division, you ask. Jesus preached to the masses, and he spoke in parables. People didn’t always understand the message, but it left them asking for more. His words penetrated their hearts. But there were those whose hearts were cold to the hard truths he shared, and they walked away rejecting his message. They didn’t want to hear that they needed to guard themselves against every type of greed. Or that instead of storing up earthly wealth, they needed to have a strong relationship with God. They didn’t want to hear that they shouldn’t store up treasures on this earth; instead their treasures should be stored in heaven. Jesus knew his preaching of the gospel would divide families instead of uniting them. He knew his teachings would make waves among the leaders of the synagogue, and he did it anyway. He knew some people would be vocal opponents of his message and others would be strong supporters, regardless of the cost. Jesus taught us to love everyone even when they live in opposition to biblical teachings.

The peace of Jesus is the cross. But the cross is the sword God wields on earth. It creates division. The son against the father, the daughter against her mother, the member of the house against the head–all this will happen in the name of God’s kingdom and his peace.

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

The message of Jesus was a message of peace. If you disagree, you’ll need to read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). But his words of peace called for people to make a radical, personal commitment to serving him. And that message divided those who chose to serve him and those who chose to reject him. Family members were at odds with each other because one chose Jesus and one did not. That’s what we see still to this day.

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53

The people also wanted their Messiah to have an earthly kingdom, and Jesus knew that was impossible. His reign would be for eternity, not for a few earthly years. The Pope, on the other hand, spent the last years of his life in palatial surroundings, governing the Roman Catholic church. He inserted his left-leaning beliefs into politics. He led as though his role was one of power, wanting total control.

The teaching of papal infallibility in the Roman Catholic Church provides a grace to the Pope, which means that when he speaks officially in declaration of revealed truth in faith or morals, he is always correct on matters of doctrine. It doesn’t mean he is without error, but his words are thought to come from the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis had recently commented that “all religions are paths to God”, but Jesus clearly stated that he and he alone is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

These words comparing Pope Francis to Jesus Christ gives us much to ponder. We can’t put our hope in one man, regardless of his position on this earth. He was made in the image of God, but that didn’t make him a child of God. Only those who call on the name of Jesus Christ and repent of their sins have the right to be called children of God. My hope is that this Pope had made that confession before his death.

It is Finished

~ mercyfortheday ~ 2 Comments

I recently learned that someone I know will soon be losing their job. Having been on the receiving end of such news more than once myself, I know the pain they’re feeling. I understand the deep feeling of loss and holy anger at being forced to leave a job I wasn’t quite ready to leave. And when the decision is made without my input, it’s a raw feeling of rejection. Who doesn’t want to be the one deciding when to leave their job? No one wants to be told their time is up at their workplace before they’ve made that decision for themselves.

When you’re told “it is finished” for you, you feel a flood of emotions. And those emotions are valid. No one enjoys being told they’re done before they’re ready to be done. But that’s how it works for many people these days. One day you’re in. The next day you’re out. It doesn’t seem fair, but that’s life. And we have to roll with it.

I’ve always lived with the motto that the best is yet to come. Even in the hardest of times, I held onto that hope. Each time I lost my job, I hoped and prayed that someone would hire me. And someone always did. But the loss of the previous job was tough. It changes you, and you have to decide if you’ll become bitter or better for it. Life isn’t over just because the job is. You never know what lies just around the corner.

The one losing her job is in the last days of employment. She’s wrapping up loose ends and giving final instructions to those she works closely with. She’ll finish well and move on to the next phase of her life. Even though the job loss was not in her plans, she can walk away with her head held high knowing she’s given it her best.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

Jesus had been teaching large crowds of people and healing the sick among them. As the days drew closer for his earthly ministry to end, he began making his way to Jerusalem. He knew that his ministry would be finalized in that city. He knew that he would face persecution and death there, and he didn’t run from it. As he made his way to the city of David, he continued his ministry by teaching and healing people. His work didn’t end because his end of days was just ahead.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

We have just lived through what was the last week of Jesus Christ’s earthly life. Before he was arrested, put on trial and then crucified, he knew his time on earth was coming to an end. The human part of him asked for “this cup” to pass from him, but his Father refused. And he knew there was no need to ask for a reprieve because he had given up his deity and became fully human just to die for the sins of humanity. And the time had come to fulfill the prophecy.

But humanly speaking, he didn’t want a kiss of betrayal on his brow. He didn’t want to be whipped. He didn’t want a trial held under the cloud of darkness. He didn’t want to feel the pain of rejection. The pressure of thorns piercing his skull. The puncturing of his wrists with nails. The slit of his side with a sword. He didn’t want the taste of gall pressed on his lips with a dirty sponge. He didn’t want to breathe his last breath hanging on a wooden cross in a public display of the prophetic holy Scriptures. But he did it anyway. He willingly suffered the pain of death for all humanity. He spoke the words “It is finished” and gave up the ghost and breathed his last. And he died for our sins so you and I don’t have to.

In alignment with the rest of God’s creation project revealed in the biblical story, the new creation is the culmination of the purpose (creation) and provision (redemption) of God. The end of creation is when the perfect capacity for creation reaches complete perfection — when God declares over his creation project what he did at our redemption: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Edward W. Klink III, The Beginning and End of All Things

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Jesus said it is finished because he was finished with his earthly ministry. He was basically saying that he had successfully completed the work he came to do. These three words weren’t a desperate cry for help. They were a proclamation that he had finished well. He had accomplished the work his Father had laid out for him, and all the prophecies of the Old Testament had now been fulfilled. Although his body was tattered and torn, beaten and bruised, he finished well. He had laid the groundwork for those who call on him to spend eternity with him.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

When Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, his earthly work was finished. In that moment, he laid down his life for us. His ministry lasted three years, but the preparations for it had begun long before he came to earth. He finished his work on earth and is now working to make our eternal home ready for when our time on earth is completed. He’s preparing a place for each of us who know him as Lord and Savior. Have you surrendered your life to him so he can prepare a room for you?

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:2-3

Know Your Instructor

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I’ve never been good at what we used to call “new math.” Oh. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. That’s all I need to know for what I do in my life. I don’t need new math. I just need the old, basic arithmetic. But I remember my high school algebra teacher. Well, here’s what I remember. I didn’t learn much, and I’m not sure how I even passed the class. I never took another math class in high school. Then I went to college, and one math class was on the agenda. The instructor was amazing. She made learning math seem easy. I’m not sure that I aced the class, but I learned more than I ever had in high school. But the information didn’t stick with me because I never needed to use it again.

Years later when I went back to school, math was one of the required courses for the degree I was pursuing. But I had to take a placement test to determine my proficiency level. It was maybe a fifteen question quiz. When I took my finished quiz to the proctor, she started grading it. Then she looked at me and said that I must have mixed up the answers to the questions. I said no, I didn’t and walked out. I knew I would have to take the most remedial math class that was offered before I could take the one math class required for the program.

I began the class. The instructor was good. He explained things well. I thought I was catching on, but then I would go home and start on the homework. I wasn’t keeping up with the work. My math knowledge had reached its limits. I quit the class and the school. Years later, I opted for another school and degree that didn’t require math.

From my failed math experiences, I learned that I need a math instructor who keeps things simple and uncomplicated. If I had had that type of instructor in high school, perhaps I would have been able to go further in my “new math” skills. But ever since then, I’ve opted for a life without the requirements of too much math, and I’ve survived just fine. And I’ve decided that if math becomes a requirement in my life, the key for my success is having the right instructor. I need someone who is patient and keeps the instructions clear and simple.

I realize that math proficiency is not related to only the instructor. It lies with me, too. And I realized many years ago that math just isn’t my strong point. And I’m fine with that. But I do need to have math skills in order to be proficient in this life, whether I like it or not. It’s up to me to take the initiative to learn the basics and apply them to the areas of my life where arithmetic is needed. I can’t slough off on it just because it’s not one of my strengths.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:4-5

Life can teach us hard lessons if we live a hard life. If we always seem to go against the teachings of those in authority, we can end up in tough life lessons. And it’s not really necessary, but we do it to ourselves because we think we know best.

The same can be said for our spiritual lives. We want what we want. And we don’t want God telling us what we can and can’t do. We want to set the rules for how we live our lives. And we let our social influences lead us. Even when they lead us down a dark and winding path that moves us further from God, we seem to follow blindly.

Oh. We may think we’re following God because, after all, we’re Christians. We go to church. We give money to the church. We may even volunteer to work in different ministries in the church. But we may find ourselves following the latest spiritual leaders who aren’t leading us biblically. And we think they are because their teachings sound so easy to follow. They don’t require use to change to do anything uncomfortable or self-sacrificing. But when we don’t read and study God’s word, we can be easily led astray. It’s easy to trust anyone who tells us to do only comfortable things. But when we read the Bible and Jesus teaches us that those who call themselves his followers must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him, then we start squirming in our seats.

Just this week, I saw a conference posted online where speakers and pastors were teaching other pastors unbiblical lessons. And then those pastors will go back to their churches and possibly teach their congregations these same unbiblical lessons. What is going on?

The only instruction that believers can trust is Scripture, which was inspired by God who doesn’t lie. He doesn’t bow to the latest fads. He doesn’t show favoritism. He offers full and complete forgiveness when we confess and repent of our sins. He instructs in the way we should live. He corrects us. He shows love and justice to everyone, regardless of the color of our skin or our birthplace.

Oh sure. We need others to come alongside us to mentor and disciple us. We need pastors who speak solid biblical truths preaching to us from the pulpit every Sunday. And then we must read and study the Word of God and apply it to our lives. There’s no way around this requirement, because it’s the only way we get to know God.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. Matthew 7:15

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

God’s instructions are straightforward, not complex. The ten commandments clearly tell us how to live. The Sermon on the Mount spells out the gospel of holy living in clear and concise words. Jesus didn’t beat around the bush when he preached to the multitudes, and those same simple words of instruction are given to us today to hear and obey. And every word written in that precious Book leads us to God. The story of salvation is not rocket science, and it’s definitely a math assignment. No one needs an advanced degree to understand it. The homework given to us is to obey the message of Jesus and embrace a life of repentance and forgiveness and then walk in obedience.

As Oswald Chambers says, if God speaks to us then we either do what he asks or tell him that we will not obey. We’re more than happy to listen to what other people say about God. We just don’t want to hear from God directly, because then we have a decision to make. And if the decision to obey God may cost us something more than we’re willing to give, we turn in the opposite direction. As a pastor recently said, there is a point of no return, and it’s either at our last breath or at the second coming of Jesus. Let’s not wait too late to make the decision to follow Christ.

It’s Ok

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I recently watched a video of America’s Got Talent from four years ago. A young woman singing under the name of Nightbirde sang an original song titled “It’s Ok.” But things weren’t really ok in her life. She had had cancer for several years and had been given only a two percent change of survival. Yet she lived with a life full of joy and happiness. She said, and I quote, “it’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” And when she sang the words of her song, the calmness and confidence in her voice earned her the golden buzzer. She said that you don’t have to wait until your life is perfect in order to be happy.

And she’s right.

There was a look of astonishment on the face of each of the judges as they listened to her story. Those judges who had fame and fortune at their fingertips were very unsure of how to handle someone who was so calmly dealing with a life threatening illness. Little did they know at that audition that this young woman had only months to live. Oh. They gave her high praise, saying her performance was very powerful and authentic. They were touched not only by her voice, but also with her story.

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. That’s what she said, and she meant it. She lived through hard times, and yet she was glowing with peace and happiness. Knowing that she had only a two percent change of surviving the cancer that was ravaging her body, she lived well. And she lived forgiven.

This young woman was a child of God. She had laid her fears and faults and sins at the feet of her Savior, and he had forgiven her. She knew that if the ninety-eight percent chance of dying came true, she would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. And that’s where she is today. She’s in eternity. She didn’t let fear of the unknown diminish her joy.

I dare to ask myself. If I had a two percent change of surviving some horrendous disease, how happy and calm would I be? I’m not sure I can answer that today, because I haven’t been dealt that diagnosis. I don’t know how I would respond to a medical death sentence. Would I calmly look death in the face and keep moving forward? Would I fight back? Would I look for alternate treatments? Would I listen to my doctors? Would I stand strong in the face of pain and suffering? Would I shrivel up in the fetal position and not get out of bed? I don’t know.

And the song that she sang. It’s Ok. She believed it was ok that her life was falling apart. That there was a high probability she wouldn’t grow old. That she would lose her life before it ever really began. And she was ok with that? If I were in her shoes, would I be ok? I don’t know.

Her friend said that “Jesus is why Jane believed a painfully tragic life could still be worth living—that life could be beautiful even when the world came crashing down.” Do I believe that to be true? Absolutely, yes, I do.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be facing a death sentence in order for life to be difficult. We don’t have to be staring the end of life in the eye in order to be weakened by fear and the feeling of defeat. It could be getting up and going to a difficult job each day. Or, it could be facing a brand new situation that puts us way outside of our comfort zone. It could be a spontaneous moment when we are put on the spot and forced to defend our beliefs in a public setting. It could be a forced premature ending of a marriage we thought would survive until death us do part. It could be a financial crisis we’re facing. It could be the consequences of a very poor decision.

What I do know is that God is the God of the ages. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything that comes our way is ordained and approved by him. Just as he allowed Satan to sift the life of Job down to ashes, he could do the same to us without our consent. Will we still trust him? Will we, at the end of the day, say it’s ok that my life has fallen apart? Will we say that these grim circumstances that we face are worth every moment of suffering as we wait to stand in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

There are many curves in the road of life as our faith is refined, and much of that is out of our control. Oh. We don’t have to sit back and watch life fall apart. We can do our part to pick up the pieces as we place our complete trust in God. As we come to learn through our times of suffering that the sole source of our strength is the Lover of our souls, we can look forward to eternity at the end of our days with calmness and confidence in our Savior.

In the midst of our suffering, can we sing to the God who is with us in our suffering? The song may not be joyful, but the joy of the Lord can remain in us even during those low days. We can have the joy of the Lord within us regardless of our circumstances. During our pain, we can sing songs of lament but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10

It Will Be Worth It All

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!

CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Every Church Is Not Alike

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

My new neighbor. The good one. The one who works hard to support his family. The one who’s been very kind and generous to his new neighbors. I’ve talked to him more than almost anyone else since I’ve moved. The mister of our household had noticed this particular neighbor was wearing a shirt for a local church. It’s actually the church that some of my family attends. He asked the neighbor if he attended the church named on his shirt and was told yes. When his family attends church, that is. He told the neighbor the first weekend we moved in that we were visiting a church close to our house on our first Sunday.

The neighbor happened to be doing an installation at my house a couple weeks later, and he asked if I had been attending the church near us. When I said yes, he mentioned that his family had attended there for awhile, because it had a good children’s program for his daughter. But now they attend the other church when they attend church. He told me of the church he grew up in, and he added that they’re all the same. All the churches are the same, so it doesn’t matter. That’s what he said.

I didn’t beg to argue his point or correct him, but it made me question why he felt that way. Oh. I didn’t question him, but I pondered his words in my heart. Perhaps there will be room for further conversations about faith and beliefs and churches down the road. Perhaps he’s searching for a deeper relationship with Christ and doesn’t know it yet. Perhaps his new neighbors have been divinely placed next door to be Jesus to him and his family.

Now. It’s not my place to say he isn’t a Christian. I don’t know. He may be a solid believer, yet I know he isn’t in church every Sunday. And some may say people don’t have to attend church every Sunday in order to be a Christian, but there is a verse in the Bible that tells us not to stop meeting with others as some are in the habit of doing because the day of Christ’s return is close. Attending church doesn’t make one a Christian, but avoiding church is not the way to go. A Christian should have a desire to meet with likeminded people to worship God.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

And I’ve been at this new address for several Sundays so far, and he hasn’t attended his sometime church in these few weeks. I know what time the service is that he attends, and he’s been home at that time. I’m not judging him. I’m just observing. As, I’m sure, he’s observing us. And that’s ok. We’re all under someone’s observation, whether we know it or not. Whether we like it or not.

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

But back to all churches being the same. They’re not, and there’s plenty of proof for that. Just because a church claims to be a Christian church doesn’t mean they preach the Bible accurately. There are churches that don’t preach sound doctrine. They may not even preach the Bible. The pastor may give book reports. Or political commentaries. Or politically correct speeches. Or really motivating ted talks. Or he may just share his opinions. They may never preach from the Bible or even quote a Bible verse.

Some churches preach a gospel other than the gospel of the Bible. The goal of some churches is for those attending to have a great experience. They don’t look to bring the person closer to Christ or to learn a biblical truth. Their goal is hyping up feelings and making people comfortable. And that isn’t a biblical church. Biblical churches preach the Bible, and that isn’t always comfortable for the listener. We may hear things that tell us we need to make changes in our lives. Preaching biblical truth should be a common denominator, but it isn’t. And the Bible warns us that there will be churches and teachers whose aim to to push away from the truth rather than toward it. We must be on our toes and know what to listen for at church. We need to be able to identify sound teaching and teaching that isn’t so sound.

When we turn away from the true gospel, we’re turning away from Jesus Christ. We can’t be fooled by teachers who call themselves Christian but don’t teach biblical truth. The apostle Paul thought it serious business if someone taught something other than the truth. He called down curses on them.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Galatians 1:8-9

And then, some people don’t want to hear the truth. They will surround themselves with teachers who teach anything but biblical truth, and they seem to thrive on it. But they are only fooling themselves because there will come a day when the truth will be brought to light. And it may be too late for them to change their tune.

So, no. All churches aren’t the same. There are a host of theological and doctrinal beliefs that cause biblically sound churches to teach different biblical concepts, but that doesn’t mean they’re teaching false ideas. If a person studies the Bible, they will see there aren’t always black and white to all the teachings. Some passages of Scripture are left up to interpretation and conviction. The reason for the different church denominations is based on interpretation of Scripture and practices of worship.

The bottom line is this. We need to gather with fellow believers to worship God in a biblically sound church.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Empty House

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We lived in an empty house for a few days last week. I had never done that before, as most people likely haven’t either. The house was bare of furniture. There were boxes packed full of treasured items. And necessities were scattered throughout the house. But there was no soft furniture. No bed. No couch. No chairs. All of it was loaded and shipped to our new home two states away. We slept on an air mattress for a few days. Our dog even roamed the house looking for a soft spot. One day she ventured downstairs to see if she could find a cushy spot to rest. But no. There were none to be found. Even my massage therapist asked me if I had been sitting on a hard surface. You bet I have.

Everything echoes in an empty house. Voices. Footsteps. Every sound echoes.

We let go of some furniture to new owners, because we downsized and not everything could make the trip. One friend told me that the pieces of our furniture in her home made her place feel more like home. Her humble abode felt better with a few gently used pieces from an old friend. That made my heart sing.

Oh. Now that some of my furniture and belongings have arrived at our new house, I’m unpacking boxes and arranging and rearranging furniture.

One of my final tasks before moving was cleaning out not one, but two fridges that hadn’t been cleaned in an obviously long time. Built up spills had hardened. Crusty spots were hidden behind drawers that hadn’t been removed for cleaning. Something green, possibly dried lettuce or kale, was lying under a shelf. Crumbs that had dropped from unknown food were found living safely in the unseen crevices and corners.

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Hebrews 13:14

An empty house is not a home. It’s when the chosen furniture, artwork and cherished family heirlooms are put in place that the house becomes a home. As personal belongings are unboxed and placed in their new home, we see the love and feel of our last home in a new way. Sure. We’ll continue to buy new items over time and discard unneeded items, but we’ll work to fill the home with possessions that warm our hearts and tell our story. We’ll paint walls and hang curtains. We’ll cozy up the house with layers of texture to make it a comfortable resting place. We don’t want to live in a sterile environment. We want our home to reflect the nature of our love for each other and for God. When guests arrive at our new home, we want them to feel welcomed and loved. It doesn’t matter if the furniture matches or is new or is professionally arranged. What matters is that it feels like home.

The empty house gave me pause when I thought about living a Christian life. We repent and confess our sins in order to become children of God, but we can still live empty lives. If we don’t fill our newfound faith with solid biblical teaching and prayer and fellowship with other believers, we’re an empty version of a Christian. We will stagnate and not show maturity. How long will it be before we walk away from our newfound faith if our faith doesn’t have any substance?

Sure. A house without furniture is still a house. But it isn’t a home. It isn’t warm and inviting. It may be appealing and full of potential, but who would willing choose to stay for any length of time? No one.

A soul without Christ is still a soul, but it’s still searching for fulfillment. The searching soul won’t be satisfied until it finds the source of life. When the soul connects with its Creator, it has found its way home. But continual growth and development of the relationship with Christ is essential for a full Christian life. We can’t just visit with him occasionally and think we have a true relationship with him. We must become closer to him than we are to anyone or anything else in our lives. It’s only then that we truly understand that this world is not our final home. We are meant for our eternal dwelling with Christ.

This world we live in offers empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. It doesn’t feel like home. At least, not a home where we want to live forever. We aren’t content here. Oh sure. We may be happy and feel content for a season of life, but ultimately we’ll feel less fulfilled as time goes on. As we draw nearer to our final days, we begin to long for our final resting place. Our bodies and minds are less reliable, and we know that we will soon move on. We can know with confidence that our final home will be with Christ when we repent and confess our sins and live our lives according to God’s will.