I didn't really want to ponder over last year. I think for many, 2016 was just one of those years. It certainly was for me. There was all kinds of set-backs for us including three deaths in our families, and a large unexpected debt. I personally also had a very dark period in 2016 that was tough to get through. I am not sure how I did get through it. Well, that's not true actually, God got me through. Although I felt like I was drowning, I had a Lifesaver keeping me afloat. Then when I look back at my journals and notes from the beginning of last year, I can actually see that although 2016 had some really low points, spiritually I have come a long way.
It's a relatively new habit, but I find it a great tool to journal what God reveals to me, and I like to write down questions that I can't find the answer to. Or things that don't make sense in the Bible. I wish I had started to do this years ago. It's quite remarkable to see from my journals how much I've learnt, and what God has revealed in the last 12 months. It never ceases to amaze me how God lovingly answers these little queries we have. Sometimes it's just a matter of weeks later, sometimes it takes a bit longer, but He is so faithful. All the things that God has been showing me over the year are starting to piece together too. I've studied areas I never would have thought of studying. The more I learn...about anything!....the more the Bible makes sense. I don't know why God's shown me some of the areas I have been studying, but I'm going to have fun finding out.
So although 2016 was a bit of a stinker, actually I'm in a much better place than I ever could have imagined. I'm still heavily 'under construction' and I know there's areas of my life I need to submit to God and sort out; but I think that if I hadn't had the year I had last year, I'd be going backwards now, and not forwards. That's not to say God brought bad stuff into my life, because I don't believe He does that. God is way to clever and powerful that He doesn't have to resort to catastrophe to get our attention. But when the bad stuff does come, as it does occasionally in life, He will use those situations for good - for our good. There should always be a testimony after the test.
So what's my testimony? Well, there's probably too much to explain for this little place. But I want to share two things I've learnt from 2016 that are really at the forefront of my mind right now:
1) God is faithful - He is so concerned about our welfare that we can't even begin to comprehend. He loves us dearly. He wants our love too. How about that? God desires you, your time, your affection, your company. But He won't force us to do anything, and He won't force Himself upon us. We always have a choice. It always begins with us as He's already done everything He can to demonstrate His love.
2) Eternity is a long time. Sounds a bit of an odd thing to have learnt, but anyone who's unsure about what happens when our time on this little planet is over has to consider that there is something else. Whatever you believe that something else is, you have to consider the prospect of an eternity. The Bible says that God has put eternity in the hearts of men. So although we don't understand it, and our minds can not comprehend that concept of never-ending, infinity, eternity, forever.... doesn't mean it isn't real. There's a part of us that inside doesn't "feel" our age. You hear grandparents or senior citizens (trying to be politically correct here!) saying "I still feel like I'm 21". Their bodies may be a bit creaky, and their hearing not so good; maybe their eyes are growing a bit dim, but inside, they feel like they are in their 20's. I don't think that's a coincidence. There's a part of us that doesn't grow old. Our physical bodies may age and grow weaker, but our souls and our spirits are made of the everlasting, and I think that's where we relate to eternity.
That being said, this little life, even if we live to be over 100yrs old, is nothing in comparison with eternity. It's a drop in the ocean, yet what we decide here and what we do with our lives will impact our whole eternity. Our decisions on whether we believe this beautiful universe was created and designed, or evolved from nothing; our decision about whether God would send His very Self in the form of Jesus to reconcile the creation He so loved, and our decision to follow His Son and live for Him, will affect our entire eternity.
Seems trivial in the business of the moment and the cares of this life, but it is anything but trivial. Our whole lives here on earth are focused on the physical world, yet we need to pause and really think about the forever and ever and ever that is facing us. It's a deep concept, but there's not a moment to lose. Last year saw so many celebrity deaths, and it really brings it home that we can't predict when our time is up. It may sound gloomy and it may not be what you want to start your new year thinking about, but if you don't consider it now, you may end up spending eternity regretting not taking this seriously.
I don't know why this matter has my attention right now but it is laying on my heart and I feel an urgency about this matter. I don't know why I feel such a sense of urgency about it, all I know is that there is nothing on this earth - no religion, no practise, no person, no way of life, not even a million good deeds or donations, that can alter your eternal destination. None but Jesus.There's nothing we can do to earn our place in heaven, It's not a case of good works, although of course they are important - but all the good works in the world are useless if we aren't doing them through the love we have for God and His people. Jesus paid for us with His very life, and He wants all His creation with Him when we step into eternity. Gloomy? Absolutely not; there's nothing gloomy about Jesus and spending eternity with Him. It's the most joyous subject one could ever ponder. He's the most joyful, loving Person you will ever encounter. He is eternity, He is everything. My prayer is that anyone reading this will take a pause, and consider what your eternity might look like. Forever is a really long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment