What Choice Will You Make?

 What Choice Will You Make?

When I was growing up as a child I had these major fears of death like: how will die, when will I die, who I will leave behind, etc… I had to even see a counselor about this one topic. It truly bothered me to my core. I couldn’t even take people talking about it. Then growing up in my early 20’s I realized I was going down the wrong road and at that point I realized I had to make a choice.  On September 1, 2001 I made the choice and because of my choice I will spend eternity in heaven.

The other day I was talking with a friend the other day about whether or not her friend was in Hell or Heaven.  I also was thinking about different folks in my life and wonder, God where are they going to go? This caused me to jump into the Bible and started my creative juices flowing about this topic. I also yesterday read Luke 16 and the ideas went to another level. I felt the Holy Spirit is leading me to share this, so here you go!

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

This is a familiar story. It’s very hard to be a student of the Bible for several years and not run into this one. It’s a frightening story. The subject is about death and the fact that some people die and go to Hell.

When I was growing up as a child I had these major fears of death like: how will die, when will I die, who will I leave behind, etc… I had to even see a counselor about this one topic. It truly bothered me to my core. I couldn’t even take people talking about it. Then growing up in my early 20’s I realized I was going down the wrong place and at that point I realized I had to make a choice.

 It’s not pleasant to think of how a person will be in such terrible torments in a place called Hell. It’s a forgotten story. Many preachers today have chosen not to use this Bible text for a sermon. In fact all references to Hell have been deleted from many pulpits in our day. It’s a true story. It was told by Jesus and He never tells a lie. Some say it’s a parable (a made-up story). I don’t believe it is. Jesus said there was a certain rich man and a certain beggar named Lazarus. Jesus gave a name to one of the characters. It gives the appearance of a real event. If it wasn’t a true story, Jesus would have said so. He would have said, “what I’m about to tell you doesn’t really happen, but there was this certain rich man…”
When Jesus told of His second-return and the preparation of mansions, he said this, “In my Father’s house are many mansions and if it was not so, I would have told you…” John 14:2 Jesus did not waste words on pointless stories.

As Jesus tells this story of the rich man and Lazarus, let’s remember that there is a story behind the story. Many of the stories, parables, and lessons Jesus gives are motivated by something being said, or taught by others, especially the religious rulers of the day---the scribes and Pharisees.

Luke 16:14-15  The proud religious law-keepers heard all these things. They loved money so they made fun of Jesus. Jesus said to them, “You are the kind of people who make yourselves look good before other people. God knows your hearts. What men think is good is hated in the eyes of God.

They focused on the outside. They looked good in the eyes of men, but God knew their hearts. Jesus tells this story and simply tells them…they are going to Hell. They hated him for the story.

I’ve titled this writing ---- THE ETERNAL HOMECOMING.

Everyone ON SOME day will be going to their ETERNAL HOME. BUT THE QUESTION OF THE DAY IS, WHERE WILL THAT HOME BE? Will it be the home of this rich man in the story? Or will it be the home of Lazarus?

 In America we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave but folks contrary to popular believe there is on 2 choices when it comes to this topic. HEAVEN OR HELL....

 SO HEAVEN OR HELL  only 2 choices ... That's it! YEP... THAT IS IT...

The Bible says, “it’s appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

·         Our Eternal Home is not based on what we POSSESS.

·         Our Eternal Home is not based on what we PROFESS.

·         Our Eternal Home is based on WHO WE KNOW. 

1. Our Eternal Home is not based on material POSSESSIONS.

BASED ON THE RICH MAN …..
Luke 16:19 Having fancy clothes… latest fashions…designer labels,drive the most expensive car/truck….have millions in the bank does not give signs of going to heaven, does he?

Mark 8:36 says, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 

You see again in Luke 16:19 fared wonderfully…lavishly every day…life of ease, you see The Pharisees thought wealth was a sign of acceptance with God…Very much like the prosperity gospel today…

1) He had wealth
2) He had what money could buy
3) He had friends…prestige…clout in the community…(this is inferred from the passage) No doubt he had political connections….Board member of some prestigious institution …A person of community status……well thought of…

Folks understand this ---it does not matter what great wealth you have…or what people think of you….may be popular, a part of the in-crowd…NONE OF THAT WILL KEEP YOUR SOUL FROM A BURNING HELL!

4) he had a great send-off…. “was buried”…….

I have no doubt about this…. there was well-known officials came to his funeral and said something respectful and honorable……he got some pretty flowers…the funeral parlor looked so pretty….so soothing…His friends / family..dressed him up…made it look so pretty…so dignified….soft music played in the back ground…

I once read about at story of this guy who went to his home town and he visited a cemetery there and will there he saw a tombstone of  where a well-known atheist is buried……Meanwhile there were preachers were looking at his tombstone. The writings on the rock spoke of atheism…no heaven..no hell….While the preachers were looking at his tombstone…a lady in a car spoke up. She was way up in years.

She said, "I remember as a child…when he died. They had a funeral for him…..a band played…..

People, It does not matter how they send you off……make it look important…flags fly half-mast…..bands playing….celebrities come and speak on your behalf…NONE OF THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM A BURNING HELL…

The rich man found his eternal homecoming in hell. And the bands weren’t  playing…no one making great speeches then, no one applauded his arrival, no welcome party was awaiting him…..all he heard was the screaming of his own voice…screaming and crying in excruciating pain….a place of incredible torment…

NOW LETS TURN OUR ATTENTION TO LAZZURUS….

• He was a beggar. He did not have clothes from a  high end clothing company. Folks he wore the beggar clothes….an awful sight to see I can imagine (the Pharisees believed the beggar…was a sign of God’s displeasure…and the least likely candidate for Heaven.)
• Going to heaven….is not based on what you possess in material things…don’t have a penny to your name….fancy clothes….this poor ole’ beggar clothed in robe of righteousness…washed in the blood of Jesus…

What did Lazarus possess…..that made it possible for him to go to Heaven?

He had Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior….

Just thinking about that gives me Holy Goosebumps but lets dive in  a little closer.

See we need to look at Lazarus as an example of one receiving Christ….
1) His poverty…beggarly status….speaks of how a person must come before the Lord….we come “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Spiritually, we are bankrupted! 

2) His inability….Lazarus had to be laid at the rich man’s gate. Unable to walk….unable to do for himself. (Pharisees taught…..God helps those who help themselves…sounds good, but God saves not by works, but  only by grace…) To be saved we must come to the Lord Jesus in our inability. We don’t come bragging off to God about our abilities…and what an asset we are to His kingdom….(the Pharisees….justified themselves, see Luke 16:15)
---WE ARE UNABLE TO COME TO GOD ON OUR OWN….Jesus said, “You are the kind of people who make yourselves look good before other people. God knows your hearts."
You can’t pray a pretty prayer, that God will accept….we don’t have it in us.
You can’t live a strict life that God will accept….we are totally unable to do anything to MERIT SALVATION…

3) Lazarus sickness…FULL OF SORES  the Bible says…

LUKE 5:31-32 Jesus said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor.  I have not come to call good people. I have come to call sinners to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them.”

Until we come to know Christ as Lord and Savior, we are a sick people….the Bible says we’re dead in our trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1….that’s how sick we are….sick to death…..
As long as we think we can handle it…we can manage….we got our own remedy for our situation then  JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS means little or not enough to you.

Many people are as what’s describe in Revelation 3
Revelation 3:17  You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

You see you don’t see His Desire.. YOU ONLY SEE YOURS!

LUKE 16:21  talks about desiring to be fed…
YOU SEE, Lazarus did not find satisfaction in his present condition. He did desired to be fed….not just the crumbs….That’s the sign of a real believer in Christ…not satisfied with their present condition…..desire to be fed and I don’t mean physically.. I mean spiritually….
1Peter 2:2  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

God did not allow Lazarus to be fed from the rich man’s table….he sent angels to carry him….to God’s banquet table…Heavenly Manna….
The crumbs of this life don’t satisfy the child of God.

Some people love the crumbs that fall from the tables of the casino….the lottery,….people today…long for the crumbs from the rich and the famous…they follow their lives…and long to have just a crumb of what the wealthy have….maybe the crumbs of the wheel of fortune, or maybe we’ll win a shot at DEAL, OR NO DEAL…. The saints of God desire the table of the Lord!

I often refer to a Bible verse when it comes to this… (Proverbs 30:7-9)

O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.  For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Folks I simply just want enough. I want His daily bread; no more no less. Whatever his will is for me to have then that is good enough for me!

           Charles B. Widmeyer wrote an awesome poem that speaks about this very thing. 

Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed
He invites His chosen people:
’Come and dine’.

With his manna,  he does feed
And supplies every need
Oh, it’s good to be with Jesus all the time.

’Come and dine’, the Master calls,’Come and dine’
You can eat at Jesus’ table anytime.
He who fed the multitude,
Changed the water into wine
To the hungry call now, ’Come and dine’.

His disciples by him stand
Thus obeying Christ’s command
For he called to all of them:
’Come and dine’
He fulfilled their hearts’ desire
Bread and fish were on the fire
And he satisfied their hunger every time.

Soon the Lamb will take his bride
To be ever at his side
All the Hosts of Heaven shall assembled be,
Oh, t’will be a glorious sight
All the saints in spotless white
And with Jesus we shall feast eternally.

Isn’t that an awesome Poem!

4) NOW back to Luke 16:25  where it talk about  His comfort

In LIFE…the rich man had all the comforts of home.
To Lazarus…there was very little comfort for him.

One sign that you are a believer in Christ…you HAVE an uncomfortable feeling about this ole’ world down here….you have a longing for another place…THIS WORLD IS NOT YOUR HOME, YOU’RE JUST PASSING THROUGH….

Colossians 3:1-4 says,  Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is you life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Many of us ….seek the comfortable life…. We don’t want to give until it hurts… We don’t want to have help a person in need because that might take too much of our time… OR we might be scared to help someone because they might do something to us…. SO We live in comfort don’t we…  We live like we don’t want to honor and Glorify HIM.. But folks one day our days on EARTH WILL BE OVER AND THEY WILL COME TO AN END>…....

As I have shared  about the rich man… hopefully you have see his life of ease, comfort CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT!!!

All comfort gone! No more Comfort Inn. No more Comfortable pillows. No more comfortable lifestyle. No more soft, velvet linen…ALL COMFORT GONE..

YOU SEE  the rich man….  ENDED WITH TORMENT….WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY……BUT PURE TORMENT…. IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS THEN FOR ETERNAL YOU WILL KNOW THREE TYPES OF TORMENT

1) PERSONAL torment. Hell is a real place, where real people go…and personally experience real torment…

2) REGRETTABLE torment. “How, I wished…I had done something about my soul…..which will be a sad day of sad regrets…

3) FIXED torment. Will not be undone. …

Nothing will change for a person in Hell.  IT is Fixed….. NEVER CHANGING

YOU SEE THERE WON’T BE…
•  Answered prayers in Hell

·        YOU Can scream all you want  but know will care

·        The maggots of Hell will tear upon your  burning flesh

·        NO PITTY ~  NO CELEBRATIONS ~ NO SINGING ~ NO LAUGHING 

•       Some say…God loves everybody…and He will not let anyone go there…

My answer to them is YES, HE does love everybody but he also gives you a choice to love and choose Him as your LORD and SAVIOR or on the other side  you can choose to say, NO and then at that point you have rejected him.

FOLKS THE BIBLE IS CLEAR …..Check out this verse…
1Corinthians 6:9-10   Do you not know that sinful men will have no place in the holy nation of God? Do not be fooled. A person who does sex sins, or who worships false gods, or who is not faithful in marriage, or men who act like women, or people who do sex sins with their own sex, will have no place in the holy nation of God. Also those who steal, or those who always want to get more of everything, or who get drunk, or who say bad things about others, or take things that are not theirs, will have no place in the holy nation of God.
Oh, that’s a list of all the “bad” people. Everyone outside of Christ is on that list.

YOU SEE…. Our Eternal Home is not based on what we PROFESS.
Check out what it says in Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will go into the holy nation of heaven. The one who does the things My Father in heaven wants him to do will go into the holy nation of heaven.

And then  22 & 23
22 Many people will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not preach in Your Name? Did we not put out demons in Your Name? Did we not do many powerful works in Your Name?’ ²³ Then I will say to them in plain words, ‘I never knew you. Go away from Me, you who do wrong!’

Well this show that Our Eternal Home is based on WHO WE KNOW.

Jesus will say to many….I NEVER KNEW YOU….. GOING TO HEAVEN IS BASED ON KNOWING CHRIST AND CHRIST KNOWING YOU….

YOU SEE.. The Rich man had a plan of salvation…….even in Hell….it was a hellish plan

Luke14:27  says….. If he does not carry his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My follower.

Folks we can carry a cross, wear a cross, put one on our Car, etc.. But if we don’t do it to Honor Christ then we are not His follower.

Back to Luke 16 at Verse 30. Where Lazarrus was raised from the dead

Ironic…Lazarus (not the same one) was risen from the dead…still what did they do to Jesus? crucified Him.

Solution: something supernatural…sensational…people will believe….amazing stories from the afterlife…

NO!!!

Jesus…..they have Moses and the prophets (OT ) Word of God

Today, people doubt,….even seemingly among the church today…we have doubts about the sufficiency and power of the Holy Bible……we think we’ve gotta to have this BIG PRODUCTION…draw a crowd…and then…on the tail end of the sensational exhibit…slip in Jesus…just like the rich man….this is a hellish plan from hell…detracting from God’s Word….

PROBLEM…PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR FROM HIS WORD……

Folks this even true for me! I was one of  those people. I thought we had to draw people in with some flair or that would draw attention. Folks we got to get back to the fundamentals as my college coach would have said. FOLKS it is time we get back to the Bible!

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Jesus took our Hell for us…..Calvary was Hell on a Hill…He took your torment…paid your penalty of sin IN FULL…)

There’s coming an Eternal Homecoming! The greatest homecoming you will ever know is when you come by faith to Jesus Christ confessing your sins and you determine to follow Him in obedience.

Now having knowing this, what will be your decision today. What will you choose to do today and for your Eternal Homecoming?  Will it be HEAVEN OR HELL?

The Christian Life

Thinking about life as we live it, I wonder what we will look back and say when it is over. I hope for all of us we can say we lived a great life and we lived it according to the way the Father wanted us to live it. Which leads me to my post.

At the end of Apostle Paul’s ministry he looked back on his work and said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7). When it comes to the Race of Life and the Christian Life, I think we have a series of choices. Every morning when we wake up you have a choices.

o   1^st- We can choose not to run, but if we don’t run we can’t win or we won’t succeed and we are surely not going to honor God.

o   2^nd- , We can choose to run but not run our best; and if we don’t run your best we  are sure to lose and again are we truly going to honor God by doing this?

o   3^rd- , We can choose to run, meaning run our best, and strive for the prize by focusing on the finish, which is what God has asked of us.

That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul wanted us to do in this passage of Scripture. If we are going to run the race and win the race, we are going to have to focus on the finish.

The Christian Life is starts by knowing Jesus Christ as our one and only Savior which is which delivers what we are saved from. After making that decision I think we then have to find our purpose and determine what we are saved for.

GALATIANS 6:7-10 says, ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. If we are to remember that we are in a race as far as the Christian Life is concerned, then we need to remember 3 actions that we must take in order to reach the finish line  and live the best Christian Life we can live.
I. DON’T GIVE IN TO SINNING 
In Galatians 6: 7 & 8 - “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.”

Satan is a liar and the father of lies. If there is one thing that he would like to tell us it is that we can sin and get away with it. This verse could also be translated, “Don’t fool yourself.”  We are living in a generation today in my opinion, who has fooled themselves into thinking they can sin and get away with it and they are truly not living what I see as the Christian Life. Think about it, if people really thought that they could NOT get away with their sin, they would do their best not to sin.

 Psalm 10:11 says, the wicked think to themselves: God has forgotten, God has hidden his face. God never sees anything!  We are plainly told, “God is not mocked”
Mocks root meaning is, “pig snout.” In other words, Paul is saying, “You cannot thumb your nose up at God. We cannot be fool God. I personally believe that it is an insult to the knowledge and character of God for us to think that we can sin and get away with it.  I have learned that people feel like they can fool be and sometimes and even all the time they can, but we cannot fool God any of the time.
- Well the second part Galatians 6 of verse 7 tells us, “for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” This is the law of the harvest, the principles of sowing and reaping. We all have to understand we reap what we have sown. If you sow corn, you will not reap strawberries. We have to understand the harvest is always the product of the seed.
- If you sow the seeds of sin you will reap the harvest of sorrow. Job 4:8 says, “As I’ve observed, those who plow sin and sow trouble will harvest it.”

Galatians 6:8 says, for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. If we sow to the flesh then we are surely going to reap corruption. We have to understand that sin petrifies the human soul.  Our sin sours our salvation and it truly robs us of joy. 

We have to understand we reap ONLY what we sow and you reap MORE than we sow. If a farmer sows a kernel of corn, he doesn’t just reap another kernel of corn, he reaps a stalk of corn, full of ears of corn.
I think about that statement and the first thing that comes to mind is Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” In other words, Jesus said, THE MORE YOU GIVE THE MORE YOU’LL GET!
What about, a farmer has a jar of wheat. Now he can take that jar of wheat and make ONE loaf of bread. But if he takes that same jar of wheat…rather than making just one loaf of bread, he goes out into the field and sows it and he will soon have enough wheat to make a grocery store full of bread.

You know the Benedictines would have agreed with this thought process as well. They believed in hard work, taking care of what you have and investing into relationships and community in their monasteries. I truly believe they would agree with You reap what you sow! 

THIS IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

·         Did you know that the way to get what you need from other people is to give other people what they need?

·         If you want more friends, be a friend to more people.

·         If you want more understanding from others, be more understanding to others.

We have to remember we reap only what we sow and we reap more than we sow.
Another principle to remember is, that we reap later than what we sow. For example, a farmer does not sow on Monday and reap on Tuesday, does he? In farming there are processes that come before harvesting: cultivation, irrigation, incubation, and then comes the harvesting.
- The point is…don’t give in to sinning.  

II. DON’T GIVE UP IN SERVING

Galatians 6:9 says, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. The law of the harvest was not given to discourage us but to encourage us.  I have come to understand that working for God is a joy, but it can also bring disappointment and discouragement. You can feel like you’re spinning your wheels and that there is no real fruit from your labor. Paul specifically tells us not to “grow weary” or to “lose heart”. Both of terms mean to grow so tired from working that you feel like giving up.

My Dad use to tinker in farming. One thing I learned is that farming is a lot of hard work. A farmer literally lives by the sweat of his brow. The same is true for God’s work. We have to understand, God’s work is hard work.  If we are going to make new disciples and truly live the Christian life then we need to be an offensive church and not a defensive church.

We have to understand that Jesus doesn’t want those with a faint of heart.  We have to that God’s work is wonderful work, it can be hard work and tough. Paul says, do not lose heart and don’t quit. I truly believe we will be amazed when we get to heaven and see how many Christians were just one minute away from victory but they quit. 2 John 1:8, watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we’ve worked for but instead receive a full reward.
I once read that George Mueller, a Christian Evangelist during the 1800’s had this neighbor that he prayed for. Well that might not sound like a big deal but you see George prayed for this neighbor’s salvation for 45 years the reading said. Do you know when the neighbor gave his life to Christ? It was at George Mueller’s Funeral. You see folks we don’t ever need to give up or quit. The Lord of the harvest has promised that if we continue to sow, not grow weary, not lose heart, not quit, we will reap a harvest. Paul said it best  to the Corinthians in  I Corinthians 15:58, as a result of all this, my loved brothers and sisters, you must stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always, because you know that your labor isn’t going to be for nothing in the Lord.

Which brings me to the 3rd thing we need to get to Finish Line and Living out the Christian Life.
III. DON’T GIVE UP ON SHARING

Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  The bible says we should take every opportunity we have to do good to all the people we possibly can, knowing we will be rewarded for doing what is good.

John Wesley had a simple but profound rule for his life: DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN, BY ALL THE MEANS YOU CAN, IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN, IN ALL THE PLACES YOU CAN, IN ALL THE TIMES YOU CAN,TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN,
AS LONG AS EVER YOU CAN.

We are to do good to everyone, and especially to those who are in the household of faith. We are to do good to all people, but it is to first start in the church.

With that said, I also believe as long as I have been a Christian, that the first allegiance to your spare time ought to be your church. I think it is fine to be a member of the Kiwani’s Club or some other civic organization; it’s great to be involved in sports or working with athletic teams, but the bible makes it clear that our priority ought to be the church.

- I Thess. 3:12 says, “May the Lord cause you to increase and enrich your love for each other and for everyone in the same way as we also love you.”  We have to understand in the Christian Life that every chance we get to do good and every chance we get to do something for God, we need to take it.

Which reminds of a beloved Saint during the Medieval Period. I highly suggest you look her up sometime. Her name is Brigid of Ireland; she  believed in not giving up and she believed in people and prayer. She believed God was like a light and she was to take that light into the darkness of the world. Even today people in Ireland still give here homage because of all the work she did and the legacy she left behind.

In knowing all that, I just want to share one more story with you. Have you ever heard of Henry C. Morrison? Henry was a great missionary who served the Lord in Africa for over 40 years. On the way back to United States, he began to wonder “will anyone remember us? Will anyone recall who we are? Will anyone meet us at the boat?” Well, unknown to Henry Morrison and his wife, Teddy Roosevelt, President of U.S., was also on board that ship. He had gone to Africa for a hunting trip. When ship pulled into New York harbor he looked to see if anyone had come to welcome them back home. Thousands of people were there cheering. Bands were playing. There were signs, banners, and billboards everywhere saying, “Welcome Home”. Henry and his wife were so excited about the crowds of people that were there to welcome them home and they went down to get their luggage, came back to the deck of the ship to get off and they realized that the parade of people were already gone. They had come to welcome Teddy Roosevelt. Henry Morrison went to his hotel room with a heavy heart. As he sat there on the bed, he asked his wife, “Honey, I just don’t get it. For forty years we poured our lives into ministry and service. And yet we come back to America and not a single soul comes to welcome us home!” His wife came and sat down next to her husband, she put her hand on his shoulder, and comforted him with words that he would never forget, “Henry, you have forgotten something, you’re not home yet!” And may that be of comfort to you. It does not matter what takes place in this life, your reward is in heaven. Always remember, “You’re not home yet.”

In the Christian Life we have to keep our eye on the prize and that is our relationship with Jesus. We have to understand that it doesn’t matter if you’ve stumbled time and time again or even fallen on your face. What matters most is how we finish. We can’t use planet earth as a holding place; we have to make the best of the time we have here. God has called us to do our best so while we are her here lets live the life he has called us to live.

I end with this, this isn’t home for eternity but when life is drawing to an end would it not be great if we all could say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)