A LONG TIME
What
does the phrase ‘a long time’ mean to you?
Actually this is a subjective statement (depending on personal feeling or
opinion). For example, if you spent the night nursing a toothache, you
would say that you spent a long time fighting pain. On the other hand, if
you spent the day with your beloved and he/she had to go out of town the next
day for an important meeting, you would say that you had spent a very short
time with your sweetheart
Hardship
always seems to last forever. Many of us try to find the quickest way out
which may not be the best way and therefore cause us more trouble. For
example, we tell ourselves that the best way to pay a bill that is very much
overdue is to rob Peter (not pay him) in order to take care of Paul. What
do you think Paul will do if you don’t have the money to pay him? Saying
that he would be very angry is an understatement!
Death
works the same way. Once it comes knocking at your door the chances of
the death angel extending your life are very slim. No matter how old you
are, you may think that your time on earth was too short and you need more time
to reach some of your goals. It is better to spend your time at funerals than
at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while
there is still time Ecclesiastes 7:2 Everyone must die once, and after
that be judged by God Hebrews 9:27.
The
suffering that Jesus went through must have appeared to have no end to
it. He was arrested, beaten, spat upon and crucified in a two day
span. He asked His Father, God, to let this cup of suffering pass from
Him yet He knew what He must do to save us from eternal punishment and knew
that joy was waiting for Him on the other side. He would raise from the dead and bring back the keys of hell back
with Him to show us that satan no longer owns those
who invite Him in their hearts to be their Lord and Savior. We must focus
on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he
endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he
received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God
Hebrews 12:2
If you think that you
have a long time left to live you might be mistaken. Tomorrow is not
promised to us. Those who belong to God through Jesus Christ have nothing
to worry about for their future is in His hands. Do you agree with me when
I say that eternity lasts a very long time? How would you like to spend
it -- sitting in heavenly places with your Heavenly Father or wishing that you
had made the right decision while you were still alive?
Minister
Francine Stuart
©
