Yesterday I walked out my door, on my way to work and said to myself, “Boy, isn’t this a beautiful day!” My next thought was, “I wonder if I’ll miss days like this when I get to Heaven.” Then, “Of course not, every day in heaven will be more wonderful than this one. I’ll be too busy worshiping and rejoicing and it will be infinitely more beautiful there than anything we have here.”
Then it struck me how used to this world I am. I judge everything by what I know and have known. And change is hard. And a lot of that difficulty with change is how used to the present situation I am and how much I love it and, consequently, don’t want things to change.
I was reminded, after thinking these deep thoughts, that God is constantly calling us to change. It usually isn’t in the area of thinking about actually dying. But when he says, something like, “Notice your sin. Your sin has caused you to be out of fellowship with me.” He is asking us to change—from sin to holiness.
And change is hard, even when he’s the one calling. We’re used to being the center of our lives. Who does God think he is expecting me to think outside the box I’ve grown so accustomed to?
As I have received this news of cancer, without any indication of how long I have to live, I realize that nothing has really changed. I’ve always known I was going to die. The new thing is that it is more certain than before or that I think I might be able to see the horizon of life here with you all. But not really. I could still get hit by a bus before cancer kills me.
The important thing is that it has made me more aware of how much I love what I have here and don’t want to leave/lose it. I think I’ll miss my friends; I’ll miss beautiful Palouse sunsets; I’ll miss golf and church and my new truck. But then, just as I think all that, I’m reminded that with Jesus is blessing and glory and wonder forevermore. And nothing is to be compared to living in the presence of God. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn 3:2). We shall see him as he is.
Besides all the wonderful blessings that God has let me partake of now, remains the things I love that produce sin in my heart. I love what I love, I want what I want. I’m used to it, it is mine, it is me. Change is hard.
With however much time I have left, I need to let looking forward to living in glory be my motivation to change into Christ’s likeness now. The bible says that Jesus endured the cross by anticipating and focusing on the joy set before him (Heb 12:I2). I know that I will be transformed into his likeness finally when we come face to face (1 Jn 3:2), but I don’t want there to be a big change. I want to make my changes as God lets me see myself clearly and change because it pleases him (2 Cor 5:9).
So, while I have them, I’ll be grateful for beautiful days, great friends, and glorious worship at church on Sundays, but I’ll also be focusing on being prepared to meet the king of Glory face to face with my head held high. Change is hard. But when you focus on the joy set before you, it changes it.
Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay
Sheri and Frank Jeschke says
You’ve run your race well. Finish strong by God’s grace.
Praying for you and your family.
Debbie Miller says
Today as I was burdened by 2 different people who were struggling: One walking & the other singing/begging, I headed home to responsibilities before me. I was behind a vehicle with HE>i sign, and out loud I repeated it, adding and changing it to HE>me/us/disabilities/disadvantages and HE>cancer/disappointment/death …. As I came home, I sang an old hymn, which caused me to look to Jesus. I turned on a CD, Hymns Triumphant, which I hadn’t listened to in a very long time, which proclaimed so much more. Hymns Triumphant, (hopefully you could find it on Spotify). Listen, sing as you listen, sing to the King! Sing Psalms out loud, some of my favs, 121, 33, 8 and so many more (thanks to David Erb for helping me learn so many more Psalms). Sing/meditate/stretch/savor/ believe. Praying for you, HIS healing hand is upon you. The race is not over, or behind us. Run hard, to the glorious finish. Praying, for your healing; it is increasing my faith! Blessings, in Christ.
Rachel says
Thank you very much, M. Lawyer. You are right: change is hard. Yoi said also this beautiful truth: “So, while I have them, I’ll be grateful for beautiful days, great friends, and glorious worship at church on Sundays, but I’ll also be focusing on being prepared to meet the king of Glory face to face with my head held high. Change is hard. But when you focus on the joy set before you, it changes it.”
Thank you!!!! SDG
m.lawyer says
Thank you.
m.lawyer says
I love the Hymns Triumphant CD. Thank you for reminding me of it. I’ll have to pull it out and give it a listen.
m.lawyer says
Thank you.