We trust that God is working behind the scenes, but not seeing how things are changing can be maddening. Being stuck in the same ol' grind day after day can feel like the effects of a misinterpretation of God's plan for our lives. While we're waiting for whatever thing we are anxiously anticipating, we must continue to work regardless of our lack of motivation or energy. Waiting can be debilitating, which is why I believe it to be a way in which God tests us. It is easy to overlook the seemingly small details in our lives (cooking, cleaning, reading, socializing, being kind and respectful...), because we feel like we're waiting for something better to come along, or that yes, those things must be done but who cares if their done perfectly (or joyfully, for that matter).
When you find yourself stuck in a mental rut, the answer is always "do the next thing". Sloppiness and slothfulness are never options because everything that needs to be done is vitally important, and it is in doing these things with a joyful and trusting heart that God rewards us with answers, patience, and more joy. We work with all we have, and God gives us immeasurably more.
And lastly, those small things we feel like putting off are really the things life is made up of. And if we did have a perfect perspective, we would see that it is doing those things, as working for God and not for men (Col 3:23, Eph 6:7), that we reap our eternal reward.
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Genesis 2:15
May 16, 2011
May 11, 2011
Godless Chatter
Specifically, I'm talking about banter. The back and forth squabbling that is done in the name of Truth, when actually it comes out of selfish ambition. Phil 1:15 says: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry". I have fallen into this trap before, and I knew my motives weren't completely right because I wanted the person to admit they were wrong, for MY benefit. And because of this, it turned into an argument. Jesus never argued, he spoke the truth in love and with perfect effectiveness so that every man who had ears would hear.
I have seen this kind of thing on Facebook multiple times. Stupid arguments are started over some biblical technicality in someone's status, and 50 comments or so later, nothing is accomplished except the weakening of someones faith. Example: Someone posts a status that praises Christ being risen on Easter day... 35 comments later, two or three people are still squabbling over the fact that it wasn't just Jesus who was risen that day, because we also rose with him. So... Somehow that makes the person who wrote the status incorrect? Where do these arguments come from(Phil 1:15)? Why are people participating in them? The repercussions of this banter, among Christians specifically, are very heavy.
The consequences:
It spreads like gangrene, destroys the faith of brothers and sisters. Are we weighing this before we open our mouths, or post a comment? As for myself, I know that these consequences are true because observing these arguments has caused me, in the past, to question certain aspects of my faith. I was so confused because these people sounded like they knew what they were talking about, yet their words were gibberish. 'God' words were being thrown out in long strings and I couldn't tell one argument apart from the other. The complexity and twistedness of one aspect of our simplistic gospel was overwhelming. It put knots in my stomach and it made me angry. 1Corinthians 2:13 says: "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." Wisdom from the spirit is first and foremost clear and simple. It is like a drink of cold water when you are parched, and these arguments do nothing except suck the life out. James 3:17-18: "But wisdom from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
How to identify it:
Identifying these hollow arguments is pretty simple. If you don't know what the heck the person is talking about, why their saying it, or what their argument is, then that's a pretty sure sign (I'm half kidding, but it's kind of true). Like I said above, long-winded paragraphs of 'God' words will be thrown out. The person's goal is clearly not a peaceable one, and they will squander their time as well as yours if allowed to get a foothold. Their goal is to win, not to share knowledge; to puff themselves up, not to be an example of humility; to run over the top of you, never to truly listen to what you say; To point out what is wrong, not to rejoice in what is right; to find something that is wrong, not to see the things that are right; to use the Bible as their ground of 'correct-ness', but they have actually blasphemed His word by using it in vain. 2 Timothy 2:23: "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels."
In my opinion, the people who are the starters of and contributors to the banter are idle.
The kind of mindset we should have:
1 Corinthians 4:14: "I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children." Beautiful, simple, loving, and Christ like. Paul's words are purely for the sake of encouraging and instructing, not humiliating or being the more 'correct' one.
I have seen this kind of thing on Facebook multiple times. Stupid arguments are started over some biblical technicality in someone's status, and 50 comments or so later, nothing is accomplished except the weakening of someones faith. Example: Someone posts a status that praises Christ being risen on Easter day... 35 comments later, two or three people are still squabbling over the fact that it wasn't just Jesus who was risen that day, because we also rose with him. So... Somehow that makes the person who wrote the status incorrect? Where do these arguments come from(Phil 1:15)? Why are people participating in them? The repercussions of this banter, among Christians specifically, are very heavy.
The consequences:
2 Tim 16-18: "Those who indulge in it (godless chatter) will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene... and they destroy the faith of some."
It spreads like gangrene, destroys the faith of brothers and sisters. Are we weighing this before we open our mouths, or post a comment? As for myself, I know that these consequences are true because observing these arguments has caused me, in the past, to question certain aspects of my faith. I was so confused because these people sounded like they knew what they were talking about, yet their words were gibberish. 'God' words were being thrown out in long strings and I couldn't tell one argument apart from the other. The complexity and twistedness of one aspect of our simplistic gospel was overwhelming. It put knots in my stomach and it made me angry. 1Corinthians 2:13 says: "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." Wisdom from the spirit is first and foremost clear and simple. It is like a drink of cold water when you are parched, and these arguments do nothing except suck the life out. James 3:17-18: "But wisdom from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
How to identify it:
Identifying these hollow arguments is pretty simple. If you don't know what the heck the person is talking about, why their saying it, or what their argument is, then that's a pretty sure sign (I'm half kidding, but it's kind of true). Like I said above, long-winded paragraphs of 'God' words will be thrown out. The person's goal is clearly not a peaceable one, and they will squander their time as well as yours if allowed to get a foothold. Their goal is to win, not to share knowledge; to puff themselves up, not to be an example of humility; to run over the top of you, never to truly listen to what you say; To point out what is wrong, not to rejoice in what is right; to find something that is wrong, not to see the things that are right; to use the Bible as their ground of 'correct-ness', but they have actually blasphemed His word by using it in vain. 2 Timothy 2:23: "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels."
In my opinion, the people who are the starters of and contributors to the banter are idle.
1 Thessalonians 5:14: "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle." 4:11: "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work..."
The kind of mindset we should have:
1 Corinthians 4:14: "I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children." Beautiful, simple, loving, and Christ like. Paul's words are purely for the sake of encouraging and instructing, not humiliating or being the more 'correct' one.
April 20, 2011
Waiting: Part I - Divine Perspective
Fellow Pilgrims -
There's a lot to be said about waiting, and it's something that, like most people I imagine, I am constantly working at. Also, I think being patient goes hand in hand with being content. So, that being said, here are my thoughts:
I find that I am most impatient when I am the least content. And to be honest, I don't have the right to be discontent. Most of the time I am impatient for the future to come, but when I get like that I really have to grasp a couple of things:
1. I am not living for myself. I am here to take care of God's sheep, and I can do that no matter where I am.
2. There is a detailed reason for every second of my day, and every detailed second could be (and most likely is) directly or indirectly affecting someone else for the better.
We sometimes tend to see time in the same way we view space (as in, astronomical space). When you look up at the night sky you see stars scattered across a huge black canvas. Seems like an awful waste of space, but actually the space between the stars is completely filled with beautiful gas and dust that make up nebulae which we can't see with the naked eye. We can only see this with a much bigger perspective (Hubble space telescope?).
It's the same way with waiting. We tend to see only the stars, the things we're looking forward to (which is perfectly natural), but when it comes to waiting for those things it can get extremely difficult. However if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed, God can open our eyes to the space in between that is completely filled with his work in our life. God is molding you in the spaces. He is doing so much and affecting so many people by your one, short lifespan that we can't even fathom it.
I love how all of God's creation conveys spiritual truths :)
"Nevertheless, each man should retain the place in life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him." 1 Cor 7:17
There's a lot to be said about waiting, and it's something that, like most people I imagine, I am constantly working at. Also, I think being patient goes hand in hand with being content. So, that being said, here are my thoughts:
I find that I am most impatient when I am the least content. And to be honest, I don't have the right to be discontent. Most of the time I am impatient for the future to come, but when I get like that I really have to grasp a couple of things:
1. I am not living for myself. I am here to take care of God's sheep, and I can do that no matter where I am.
2. There is a detailed reason for every second of my day, and every detailed second could be (and most likely is) directly or indirectly affecting someone else for the better.
We sometimes tend to see time in the same way we view space (as in, astronomical space). When you look up at the night sky you see stars scattered across a huge black canvas. Seems like an awful waste of space, but actually the space between the stars is completely filled with beautiful gas and dust that make up nebulae which we can't see with the naked eye. We can only see this with a much bigger perspective (Hubble space telescope?).
It's the same way with waiting. We tend to see only the stars, the things we're looking forward to (which is perfectly natural), but when it comes to waiting for those things it can get extremely difficult. However if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed, God can open our eyes to the space in between that is completely filled with his work in our life. God is molding you in the spaces. He is doing so much and affecting so many people by your one, short lifespan that we can't even fathom it.
I love how all of God's creation conveys spiritual truths :)
"Nevertheless, each man should retain the place in life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him." 1 Cor 7:17
April 10, 2011
The Pilgrim and the Wanderer
Definitions of a wanderer:
1. To move about without a definite destination or purpose.
Definitions of a pilgrim:
The differences between the two are profound. Like the Israelite's punishment of having to walk around the desert till a whole generation died off, wandering is what happens to someone when they refuse to acknowledge God's presence in their life. They fall under one of the effects of the original curse. They are without a destination and without a purpose. They stumble toward mirages in the rippling horizon, and for the moments when they are walking toward the image depicting a happiness or distraction, they are happy (or sometimes merely eager). But upon reaching it they they find it was merely a self generated display of a feeling that they wish they could have eternally. Everyone is looking for God, but many refuse to face this truth. Eternity was set in the hearts of men and no matter how much we deny Him, God is has always been our heart's desire from the beginning of time. It is sin that deludes us in to thinking we have any chance of finding purpose or joy apart from dwelling in Christ.
"Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;" Psalms 107:4
"He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste." Job 12:24
When the Israelites first embarked on the journey to the promised land, the journey God was taking them on, they were pilgrims setting off to discover a place of sacredness (I believe the Promised Land to be a depiction of Eden). They had a known destination, and their goal was to reach it. The wanderer walks aimlessly, distracted by everything because nothing is their destination (they have a goal, but no way by which to reach it unless they have a destination). Pilgrim's are dauntless, always with their eyes fixed straight ahead. They aren't even interested in looking this way or that, because they are so sure of what lies ahead of them, although it can not be seen with the human eyes as a mirage can.
"They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.'" Jeremiah 50:5
"For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." Hebrews 11:10
The punishment of God is the curse (which we brought upon ourselves from the beginning), and when a pilgrim turns from their destination (the ultimate purpose for which something is created or intended), inevitably, they become an aimless wanderer chasing after wisps of smoke and figments of their imagination. They rely on the physical world and their physical senses to direct them instead of the eternity that is set in their hearts.
1. To move about without a definite destination or purpose.
2. To proceed in an irregular course; meander.
3. To go astray.Definitions of a pilgrim:
1. One who embarks on a quest for something conceived of as sacred.
2. A newcomer
3. a person who undertakes a journey to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion.
3. a person who undertakes a journey to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion.
The differences between the two are profound. Like the Israelite's punishment of having to walk around the desert till a whole generation died off, wandering is what happens to someone when they refuse to acknowledge God's presence in their life. They fall under one of the effects of the original curse. They are without a destination and without a purpose. They stumble toward mirages in the rippling horizon, and for the moments when they are walking toward the image depicting a happiness or distraction, they are happy (or sometimes merely eager). But upon reaching it they they find it was merely a self generated display of a feeling that they wish they could have eternally. Everyone is looking for God, but many refuse to face this truth. Eternity was set in the hearts of men and no matter how much we deny Him, God is has always been our heart's desire from the beginning of time. It is sin that deludes us in to thinking we have any chance of finding purpose or joy apart from dwelling in Christ.
"He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste." Job 12:24
When the Israelites first embarked on the journey to the promised land, the journey God was taking them on, they were pilgrims setting off to discover a place of sacredness (I believe the Promised Land to be a depiction of Eden). They had a known destination, and their goal was to reach it. The wanderer walks aimlessly, distracted by everything because nothing is their destination (they have a goal, but no way by which to reach it unless they have a destination). Pilgrim's are dauntless, always with their eyes fixed straight ahead. They aren't even interested in looking this way or that, because they are so sure of what lies ahead of them, although it can not be seen with the human eyes as a mirage can.
"They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.'" Jeremiah 50:5
"For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." Hebrews 11:10
The punishment of God is the curse (which we brought upon ourselves from the beginning), and when a pilgrim turns from their destination (the ultimate purpose for which something is created or intended), inevitably, they become an aimless wanderer chasing after wisps of smoke and figments of their imagination. They rely on the physical world and their physical senses to direct them instead of the eternity that is set in their hearts.
April 2, 2011
One here will constant be...
I feel the title of my blog needs an explanation since I have been asked about it a couple of times.
I chose the name from a line in the song called "Who Would True Valor See". It's a very old hymn that is inspired by the book 'Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. The lyrics are so beautiful, humble, refreshing, and yet complex that I feel like I could read the words ten times and still have so much of its meaning left to grasp. Its fascinating how that is - the fact that the things that are simplest tend to befuddle us. I hope to keep my blog molded by and focused around simplicity, pilgrimage, fearlessness, and devotion (roughly). In my next post I want to explore the detailed differences between being a wanderer and being a pilgrim; but I digress....
I encourage reading over the words a couple of times, at least.
Who would true valor see
Let him come hither
One here will constant be
Come wind, come weather
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His fist avowed intent to be a pilgrim
Who so beset him 'round
With dismal stories
Who but themselves confound
His strength the more is
No lion can him fright
He'll with a giant fight
But he will have a right to be a pilgrim
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit
Then fancies flee away
He'll fear not what men say
He'll labor night and day to be a pilgrim
I chose the name from a line in the song called "Who Would True Valor See". It's a very old hymn that is inspired by the book 'Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. The lyrics are so beautiful, humble, refreshing, and yet complex that I feel like I could read the words ten times and still have so much of its meaning left to grasp. Its fascinating how that is - the fact that the things that are simplest tend to befuddle us. I hope to keep my blog molded by and focused around simplicity, pilgrimage, fearlessness, and devotion (roughly). In my next post I want to explore the detailed differences between being a wanderer and being a pilgrim; but I digress....
I encourage reading over the words a couple of times, at least.
Who would true valor see
Let him come hither
One here will constant be
Come wind, come weather
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His fist avowed intent to be a pilgrim
Who so beset him 'round
With dismal stories
Who but themselves confound
His strength the more is
No lion can him fright
He'll with a giant fight
But he will have a right to be a pilgrim
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit
Then fancies flee away
He'll fear not what men say
He'll labor night and day to be a pilgrim
March 31, 2011
"Take Up Your Cross"
I understand about dying to self, however I admit I have never fully understood what Jesus meant when he said this. But today this concept was brought to my attention at a moment when I really needed it. I felt as if I'd finally grasped a truth that answered almost all of my questions and put my discontentment to rest.
If I'm lonely, hurt, confused, put down, or afraid, the answer is always "Take up your cross".
The cross is a symbol of death and physical pain, but also of spiritual birth/renewal. Put another way, it is a connection and our common ground with Christ and it signifies strength and love. Strength and love is what it takes to place ourselves on the alter every day.
The cross is the one thing we must have with us on our journey if we make the decision to follow in Jesus's footsteps - nothing else in the world is required.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24) So, back to what I said in the beginning. If I'm lonely, the answer is: die with me; It's not a request.
It is only by overcoming ourselves daily that we can strengthen our relationship with Christ.
The cross is our relationship with Christ.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23)
If I'm lonely, hurt, confused, put down, or afraid, the answer is always "Take up your cross".
The cross is a symbol of death and physical pain, but also of spiritual birth/renewal. Put another way, it is a connection and our common ground with Christ and it signifies strength and love. Strength and love is what it takes to place ourselves on the alter every day.
The cross is the one thing we must have with us on our journey if we make the decision to follow in Jesus's footsteps - nothing else in the world is required.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24) So, back to what I said in the beginning. If I'm lonely, the answer is: die with me; It's not a request.
It is only by overcoming ourselves daily that we can strengthen our relationship with Christ.
The cross is our relationship with Christ.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23)
March 29, 2011
Perspective
After the fall, I can imagine one of the first things that Adam and Eve noticed was how extremely impaired their perspective was.
Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were completely cared for by God, and therefore had nothing to be afraid of or worry about. God and His Creation was their entire world, so their eyes were always focused on Him. He was truly their All in All.
After they sinned, however, their vision moved away from the spiritual. It was pulled down to earth and their physical selves, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked..." Gen 3:7.
Perspective is a strong weapon of Satan's. Because we have sin, the way we view God and the spiritual realm can never be fully mended in this life. At one time we could see, but now its almost like we have to re-access it all by re-identifying it as we try to distinguish good from evil. I know at least for myself, my biggest battle is keeping hold of the insights God gives me into His mind and the spiritual realm and not allowing Satan to deceive me into despairing, losing faith, calling good things evil, or other such effects that come from him slipping his own perspective over God's.
The Devil is shrewd, and he will try to deliver the perspective from a source that we trust, such as the church. He will try and make us believe that something has always been a certain way, when really it is an error of this day and age.
We have to rely on scripture entirely so that the curtain can't be lowered, and so we can have firm faith in the truth that God has already made his enemies his footstool.
Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were completely cared for by God, and therefore had nothing to be afraid of or worry about. God and His Creation was their entire world, so their eyes were always focused on Him. He was truly their All in All.
After they sinned, however, their vision moved away from the spiritual. It was pulled down to earth and their physical selves, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked..." Gen 3:7.
Perspective is a strong weapon of Satan's. Because we have sin, the way we view God and the spiritual realm can never be fully mended in this life. At one time we could see, but now its almost like we have to re-access it all by re-identifying it as we try to distinguish good from evil. I know at least for myself, my biggest battle is keeping hold of the insights God gives me into His mind and the spiritual realm and not allowing Satan to deceive me into despairing, losing faith, calling good things evil, or other such effects that come from him slipping his own perspective over God's.
The Devil is shrewd, and he will try to deliver the perspective from a source that we trust, such as the church. He will try and make us believe that something has always been a certain way, when really it is an error of this day and age.
We have to rely on scripture entirely so that the curtain can't be lowered, and so we can have firm faith in the truth that God has already made his enemies his footstool.
March 25, 2011
The New Trend
There seems to be a infectious way of thinking that has woven its way through society, and it is this:
Above all else follow your dreams. No matter what obstacle stands in your way you can find a way through. If you do not succeed in doing this, then you are the obstacle.
Yes, nauseatingly familiar isn't it... the new 'trend'. And it is present in so many songs, books, and speeches like a drug slipped into a drink. It is a delusional way of thinking that will destroy an individual's relationship with God if it is able to take root.
As a Christian - I am a slave to my Master. His goals are my goals. His work is my work. His thoughts should be my thoughts (after all, we possess the same mind). "Find out what pleases the Lord" and "Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people." Eph 5:20, Col 3:23
How could we fool ourselves into thinking that it is even possible to find joy in anything where Christ is not our reason for doing it, and where His being glorified by our work is not the ultimate satisfaction and joy that is gained by it?
Partly what got me thinking more about this subject was an experience.
I was at a Christian concert recently and the main singer was giving an inspirational talk that came in snippets between songs. To tell you the truth I remember hardly anything about God being mentioned. The entire talk was geared toward teens, telling them to pursue their dreams and not let anything hold them back. The whole talk. Now I know the singer is truly an amazing Christian who writes uplifting songs, and that how they came across was probably not how they meant to come across. But my point is that, once again, that way of thinking and speaking is everywhere. We have to be on our guard.
In the world - This extreme pressure that inflicts society is to me one of the most damaging things I've seen. The world is led by friends, family, and media to emphatically believe that if they do not accomplish something 'big', the something that is their passion, then they have missed out on life. They have missed their chance at experiencing life at its fullest. They have failed, and they are less than worthy. From what I've seen, I truly believe that one of the primary causes of depression is people living by this way of thinking. They fail in fulfilling their dreams of love or career or whatever and they think it's over. They shut down and wait for their life to end (maybe they are not thinking it but it is the way they live the remainder of their lives and it guides the rest of their thoughts). Ever heard of a mid-life crisis? It is caused by the same way of thinking. They think that they have wasted their life, and they're right to an extent. They wasted their lives serving themselves when they could have been living the life God planned for them to live. The perfect life. A life of blissful servitude meant for glorifying the one who gave it to them. I feel sick thinking about the overwhelming despair that sweeps through society because of this viral way of thinking.
The reason this lie has been able to enter into our society is because Satan has taken advantage of our lack of perspective. From the beginning of time, up through about the 1950's, this way of thinking was not prominent. In the very old days people did what their parents did. Joseph was a carpenter so, naturally, Jesus was also. It was the trade of his family.
The Goal is waking up in the morning and making a conscious decision to die to self. It is being faithful and obedient in the small things. It is giving honor to whom honor is due.
Christ is the 'dream', although I prefer to say prize.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." and
"We know that every good and perfect thing comes from above" for "He knows how to give good gifts to his children."
Above all else follow your dreams. No matter what obstacle stands in your way you can find a way through. If you do not succeed in doing this, then you are the obstacle.
Yes, nauseatingly familiar isn't it... the new 'trend'. And it is present in so many songs, books, and speeches like a drug slipped into a drink. It is a delusional way of thinking that will destroy an individual's relationship with God if it is able to take root.
As a Christian - I am a slave to my Master. His goals are my goals. His work is my work. His thoughts should be my thoughts (after all, we possess the same mind). "Find out what pleases the Lord" and "Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people." Eph 5:20, Col 3:23
How could we fool ourselves into thinking that it is even possible to find joy in anything where Christ is not our reason for doing it, and where His being glorified by our work is not the ultimate satisfaction and joy that is gained by it?
Partly what got me thinking more about this subject was an experience.
I was at a Christian concert recently and the main singer was giving an inspirational talk that came in snippets between songs. To tell you the truth I remember hardly anything about God being mentioned. The entire talk was geared toward teens, telling them to pursue their dreams and not let anything hold them back. The whole talk. Now I know the singer is truly an amazing Christian who writes uplifting songs, and that how they came across was probably not how they meant to come across. But my point is that, once again, that way of thinking and speaking is everywhere. We have to be on our guard.
In the world - This extreme pressure that inflicts society is to me one of the most damaging things I've seen. The world is led by friends, family, and media to emphatically believe that if they do not accomplish something 'big', the something that is their passion, then they have missed out on life. They have missed their chance at experiencing life at its fullest. They have failed, and they are less than worthy. From what I've seen, I truly believe that one of the primary causes of depression is people living by this way of thinking. They fail in fulfilling their dreams of love or career or whatever and they think it's over. They shut down and wait for their life to end (maybe they are not thinking it but it is the way they live the remainder of their lives and it guides the rest of their thoughts). Ever heard of a mid-life crisis? It is caused by the same way of thinking. They think that they have wasted their life, and they're right to an extent. They wasted their lives serving themselves when they could have been living the life God planned for them to live. The perfect life. A life of blissful servitude meant for glorifying the one who gave it to them. I feel sick thinking about the overwhelming despair that sweeps through society because of this viral way of thinking.
The reason this lie has been able to enter into our society is because Satan has taken advantage of our lack of perspective. From the beginning of time, up through about the 1950's, this way of thinking was not prominent. In the very old days people did what their parents did. Joseph was a carpenter so, naturally, Jesus was also. It was the trade of his family.
The Goal is waking up in the morning and making a conscious decision to die to self. It is being faithful and obedient in the small things. It is giving honor to whom honor is due.
Christ is the 'dream', although I prefer to say prize.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." and
"We know that every good and perfect thing comes from above" for "He knows how to give good gifts to his children."
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