Christ – We Are the Lucky Ones

In the course of over a year, many we have known and loved have passed away. This is heartbreaking for those of us who remain. Wishes for more time with those we love. For what they meant to us and hopes for what they would be in the future.

The Bible states that because of Christ’s sacrifice, that He removed the fear of death, but many of us still fear death. We do whatever we can to avoid it. Even within the hardships, we enjoy this life we have known.

I imagine that if we truly believed that God loves us as it states in Romans 8:38, that His love will hold us, we would not fear.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. “Romans 8:38

We, who are believers in Christ, are called to die to self and sin. Die to the natural things of the flesh. Live and follow Christ. I think that often, we are thankful for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Allowing us to know that when we leave this earth that we will be with Him, where there is no more death or sorrow. Yet, we fail to realize that when we accept Christ as our Savior, we have already died from this life and are basically just waiting for the time when He takes us to the next step with our new body that is like His. We all are already living in eternity.

When I was younger, there was a comedian, Flip Wilson whose trademark line was, “the devil made me do it”. We all thought it was funny, but there is an amount of sad truth in this statement. If “the devil makes me do it” then, I am living for the devil and not Christ. I think this is hardest for us, that we no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ. This is a moment by moment struggle between how we were born (in sin) in this physical world where self is preeminent and releasing every situation to Christ. Sometimes, we fear doing this, because we fear that He will take away something we love.

The fact remains that at some point, we will all leave this earth. Why do we live with the illusion that we won’t? There have been times in my life when loved ones have faced death and being that it was “in their face” so to speak, they were forced to think about leaving this life. Yet, on a daily basis, we are facing death all day long, and we don’t think about it. “That’s not going to happen to me, I have time to do this or that”, but do we?

My neighbor, just one year older than I, was just watching a football game and had a massive heart attack. As Jesus said about the coming of the age, “We do not know the day or the hour”, this is true for Christ’s return and also for our time here on earth.

I have to admit, that often, I live this life not in the reality of what is true. That I have died to myself. That Jesus is not a sideline to my life. That He IS my life. My lifeline. May I remember always that Christ came to save the dead. That was me and continues to be me when I don’t die to this world.

We still grieve those we loved that have already made that transition. For they are special and have been in our life for a purpose and for us to love. I am thankful that God loved us so much that He has given us the gift of those to love.

In my early days, I made a lot of bad choices. As a result, I struggled with guilt and remorse. After listening to a “Billy Graham Crusade” on television, I called and prayed with someone and received Christ as my Savior. I enbarked on a life to please my Savior.

Once you acknowledge, associate or wear the name Christian, you put your life on display. You become vulnerable to ridicule, judgement, ect. For the person who does not believe, there is not this same level of judgement. “Live and let live” Do as you please in your own eyes. It is not the same for a Christian, for you wear the name of Christ. People expect you to be perfect or you are a hypocrite.

Yes, we are complete in Christ, but that is where Christians and non-Christians alike err in their thinking. It is “in Him” that we are complete. I had fallen into this for many years, I knew that Jesus loved me and gave the ultimate sacrifice for me. Death sentence that I deserved. Not according to the world’s standard, but according to God’s. His standard is the only one that I need to be concerned about. I tried to please Him the only way that I knew in my limited understanding of the Scriptures. We are complete because we have His name, nothing that we have done.

As life has taken many twists and turns, God has been with me through that whole time. Well, of course He’s there. He’s everywhere and sees all. 🙂 The problem that I have acquired as I have traveled this life is when I rely on my own understanding. This is a moment by moment decision. It has caused me to stumble, to maybe seem like a hypocrite. If anyone has thought this of me, I pray that from this moment on, that they will see Christ in me. When I rely on what’s natural, this causes me to live in sin, but when I give myself to Jesus, it is right. When I pray to my Father, sometimes He answers with a “yes”, sometimes with a “no”, and sometimes “not right now, for there is a better time.” All I know from my experience, is that the more I talk to Him, the more peace I have.

This month, the pastor is teaching on the “Ten Commandments”. Today, I felt that I needed to hear what He had to say. He was talking about the 3rd commandment where it states not to take the Lord your God’s name in vain. I don’t do that…or so I thought. He made the point that how I act, effects God’s name. If I use His name carelessly, if my life does not portray Christ, I’m using His name in vain.That I need to honor the Family name in my conduct. There is much Power in the name of Jesus. I pray that I don’t lessen it by how I portray Him to the world. The following, is a song by Rich Mullins,which are my sentiments… give it a listen! 🙂 Part of the lyrics state, “And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.”

I also believe this. My belief in God, makes me who I am. IT is what makes me who I am. No, I have not always lived in a way that I want to live, because I relied on my own understanding. I need God! Every moment of everyday. I cannot live this life without His direction.

I wish that I would have been a better example for my kids and continue with that same hope. I pray that as I look into the light of the face of Jesus, that I may radiate that love to them. I also pray that anyone that knows me, knows that my desire is for them to know how much I love them.

I and some other ladies recently went to the “Ark Encounter” in Kentucky. It is the exact dimensions of Noah’s Ark. It was an awesome experience. Some like to think that the people listed in the Bible are mythical, yet here there is much archaeological evidence to the contrary. Just as a Creator intricately designs nature, the details of the Ark cannot be explained away. In my own life, how situations have been connected can have no other explanation than to be divinely orchestrated. This was an awesome experience. If you ever get a chance to visit, I would highly recommend it.