Have you ever met one of those people who just love the Lord and you can really tell it. You know those people who are honestly REALLY excited about going to heaven: people who are either sick, lost someone, or just outright radically on fire for the Lord. For the longest time, I was NOT looking forward to heaven even though I am a Christian and have been one for over 20 years. I clung to the only thing I knew, this earth. I wanted to see my children grow up, go to college, get married, and have grand-kids!! I loved the Lord, went to church and thought why am I not like so-in-so about this heaven thing. I had read that we are aliens on this earth, foreigners in a foreign land but I really did not understand those verses. To be honest, I probably did but I just wasn't "feeling it". All I understood about heaven was it is better than the alternative.
About 3 years ago, we started to go to Highlands and it happened again. I was surrounded by people excited about heaven: people who had joy and a peace that surpassed all understanding. Well anyone who has ever experienced Highlands knows that you immediately know something is different about this place. I started to learn more than I ever knew about several things, which surprised me since I have been going to church every Sunday since in-utero. I main theme that I heard over and over again was "it's a relationship not religion". Here is one quick quiz you can do to determine where you are on the religion verses relationship status: What is your attitude about church? Is it one of: I really do not like it because fill-in-the-blank; I really-need-to-go or I really-do-not-need-to-go to worship God, or I got-to-go? Man, it should be WE GET TO GO! So I started to have a relationship with God everyday rather than just when I needed Him.
Then it happened. One day during worship, we started to sing You Hold Me Know by Hillsong. I remember the most joyful feeling of "I get it." I get to go to heaven where Jesus will hold me. I understand this blessed hope that Paul and others talk about! Eternity with our Heavenly Father and JESUS! It changed my whole outlook about everything.
Now that I get it, one of the things the Lord has laid on my heart is to have an eternal perspective. To weigh everything with the thought "how does this truly affect eternity?" Does it really matter if your team wins? Does it really matter that cars break down if you can get them fixed? Does it really matter that you have the perfect pair of shoes to go with an outfit? Does it really matter that I have an opinion about something that really does not matter? Does it really matter that I win this silly fight? Does it really help if I vent to someone about work, family, friends, etc? Does this person know Jesus? I am trying to run everything through the filter of WWJD (what would Jesus do?)
Am I successful? Have I mastered this new perspective? Not hardly, but I am in a season of learning and growth. Everyday, I am getting better and better. As I pray and read God's word, it becomes easier and easier. It is becoming more like my nature; the nature that is really within me because of Christ. "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:21-24.
I will leave you with the verse I woke up with this morning, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE!
About 3 years ago, we started to go to Highlands and it happened again. I was surrounded by people excited about heaven: people who had joy and a peace that surpassed all understanding. Well anyone who has ever experienced Highlands knows that you immediately know something is different about this place. I started to learn more than I ever knew about several things, which surprised me since I have been going to church every Sunday since in-utero. I main theme that I heard over and over again was "it's a relationship not religion". Here is one quick quiz you can do to determine where you are on the religion verses relationship status: What is your attitude about church? Is it one of: I really do not like it because fill-in-the-blank; I really-need-to-go or I really-do-not-need-to-go to worship God, or I got-to-go? Man, it should be WE GET TO GO! So I started to have a relationship with God everyday rather than just when I needed Him.
Then it happened. One day during worship, we started to sing You Hold Me Know by Hillsong. I remember the most joyful feeling of "I get it." I get to go to heaven where Jesus will hold me. I understand this blessed hope that Paul and others talk about! Eternity with our Heavenly Father and JESUS! It changed my whole outlook about everything.
Now that I get it, one of the things the Lord has laid on my heart is to have an eternal perspective. To weigh everything with the thought "how does this truly affect eternity?" Does it really matter if your team wins? Does it really matter that cars break down if you can get them fixed? Does it really matter that you have the perfect pair of shoes to go with an outfit? Does it really matter that I have an opinion about something that really does not matter? Does it really matter that I win this silly fight? Does it really help if I vent to someone about work, family, friends, etc? Does this person know Jesus? I am trying to run everything through the filter of WWJD (what would Jesus do?)
Am I successful? Have I mastered this new perspective? Not hardly, but I am in a season of learning and growth. Everyday, I am getting better and better. As I pray and read God's word, it becomes easier and easier. It is becoming more like my nature; the nature that is really within me because of Christ. "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:21-24.
I will leave you with the verse I woke up with this morning, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE!
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