For several years I've had an annual physical scheduled for
mid-January. It's a horrible time to have to go the doctor—right after all the
goodies at Christmas and Thanksgiving. I think it’s not unlike everyone when
they get ready to vacation at the beach. They start tanning, dieting to get
ready for the swimsuits. So I jump on the treadmill and start running and then
do some exercises each day to try to get the blood pressure down, the pounds
shed, and the lung capacity built back up. It amazes me how fast January comes
each year! (I think someone is stealing a couple of months somewhere.) One
thing I know is that the closer I get to the appointment the better I take care
of myself (no midnight ice cream—in fact no midnight staying up late.).
The point is the
closer we get to an appointment—the better prepared we want to be. I think we
should feel that way in our Christian walk as well. The closer we get to our
destiny with God, the more we should want to be like Him. Two things are
clear–we are all getting closer to that day when God calls us home. Time truly
doesn't stop for anyone. And secondly, we want to prepare to share eternity with
Him. That may mean some different uses of our time and money. I should want to
be a better (more mature—not just older!), Christian in 2018 than I was in
2017. I should give more, spend more time in His “love letter” to us—the Bible,
spend more time with other Christians and help them stay strong. (“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are
spiritual; restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to
yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and
thereby fulfill the law of Christ” Gal. 6:1-2
NASB). Also Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us
consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our
own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Which reminds me of a comment I heard: “They wouldn't come to
church on Sunday night even if the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was preaching.”
I believe Jesus came to
earth to share His life with others (Luke 19:10) and He wants us to do the
same—not just live for ourselves (which is what we want). In fact there isn't
much room for interpretation of Luke 14:26-27 NLT these are the words of Jesus
“If you want to be My follower you must love Me more than your own father and
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life.
Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple.” So we need to get ready to meet Him by
living for Him first in 2018.
Have a Great New Year!
Alan
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