November 10, 2012
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Tom’s Walk Toward Reality
When I find myself “too much in this world” – too focused on or concerned about something other than God, and too invested in this reality (often at the cost of peace and contentment) instead of the one He gives us in His eternal perspective, there are some pieces of truth I have learned from Him over the years that I have found are very helpful in turning my focus back on Him and “getting back to reality.”
1. I realize that I am a new creation: the old me is dead and buried, along with the power all its wounds and sins once held over it. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, Romans 6). The new me is resurrected, God loves me and chose me and wants to be as close to me as possible: He wants to be in every part of my life; He wants me to share my whole day in close relationship with Him. (Ephesians 1:11-14, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:1-2).
2. I realize this life will be over in about 40 years, maybe a little more, maybe much sooner. (James 4:13-17). And then I will be in a different life. (John 14:2, Revelation 21:3-5).
3. I think about how all that will matter in that life is relationship, and all I will take with me from this life to the next is relationship. Not my earthly appearance, money, status, competency, knowlege (much of mine may be wrong anyway!), debts or favors, fitness, health, marriage, spouse, accomplishments … nothing but the relationships I have built with God and others who have also built relationship with Him. (Luke 16:1-15, Matthew 6:19-21). I realize that relationship with Jesus is built in part through acts of kindness to those in need (Matthew 25:31-46), and I realize that my true heart in every relationship will be revealed – all the good and the bad. (Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 16:19-31).
4. I realize that in that life I will know, and be known, and have deeper and more satisfying relationship and intimacy with EACH and EVERY person, than I could ever have with even one person here, even in marriage. (1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Corinthians 13:12).
5. I realize that, since I am the church and we are the church, as the church in that life we will all be “married” to God, which makes God my ultimate (eventual) soul mate – and every other believer’s eventual soul mate as well. (Ephesians 5:25-27, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3). I realize that like the first man, adam, I am bent toward preferring Eve’s logic over God’s command, but, I also realize that I can (and should) choose to relate to God as my “soul mate” now, as He is actually the best match for what my culture describes as a “soul mate.” (Urban Dictionary “Soul Mate”, Luke 24:32, Matthew 4:18-22, psalm 139:13-16, psalm 18:1-2, psalm 4:8, psalm 138:1-18).
6. I realize that what really matters, here, then, is not what I can get or collect or gather for *myself*, but for Him and others, to enjoy together with Him in a way that builds relationship. (Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 16:19-31).
7. I realize that I can be a point of presence for Him for others – and they can be a point of presence for Him for me, but only in part, and not purely, and that is ok – it is what it is. (Luke 16:19-31, Eph. 2:10, Acts 2:15-18). In my mind, as I ponder this, I see a high security prisoner and his loved one touching the plexiglass barrier in the same spot during a prison visit. (Person 1 is the plexiglass; God is the visitor; person 2 is the prisoner).
8. When I extend hope, love, acceptance, etc. (with integrity to the truth) to others to the point of risking and even experiencing rejection for long periods of time, I participate with Christ in His redeeming work in the world. For how long has he extended such things with open arms to the world and been rejected by so many? His will – for those gifts to be extended to all – is accomplished whether the gifts are accepted or rejected. When they are accepted I share in His joy; when they are rejected, I share in His suffering. (Rom.8.17).
9. At this point, I can put all my hopes, dreams, longings, needs, etc. into perspective. (For me, for example, my desire to be partnered with someone here in this life, and what kind of person. And I realize that partnering with someone has its purpose in the purposes above).
