For the last year I've been engaged in a writing project that requires me to answer a series of questions posed over the fifty two weeks of the year. My answer to the last question that I chose to answer is one that I decided to share because it's always on my heart and mind...
What do you worry about?
I know that worrying itself changes nothing but there are some things that cause me deep worry. And of those particular things, there are none that I have the power to change on my own, but they are instead those that I have to appeal to Christ’s mercy to intercede.
I have deep worry for the souls of all of my loved ones because I know that despite all that we might find concern for in our passing through of this world, there’s only one account that will, for all time, require an answer from all of us. That response, having already been made while we journeyed here, will leave us without further opportunity to answer. Our choice, made in this current life, will leave us either profited by Christ or punished for eternity. I worry about the truth of the belief of God to be found in each individual and the true depth of faith in Christ as well, to be found in any, by the all knowing Judge at the end of their journey here.
My heart worries deeply for the souls of my children and their families, but not only them. The pinnacle point in each and every life, the point of it all, the purpose of life in us, is to respond to God—nothing else. So as I observe the spirit of individuals in the world around us, I know that there’s a life and death decision required of every soul that God’s given life to and that what spills out of them here speaks with some certainty to the condition of the fountainhead—the heart within them. It gives me cause for worry- not for myself, but for them, even people whom I don’t know, because the day will come when they will be called to account and some of them likely have no idea what horrors await them if they’ve not actively made the right decision.
I don’t stand in judgment of anyone. The very least of my own sins would condemn me for eternity without the benefit of Christ’s merciful sacrifice and grace to save me—which is true of every soul that God has given life to. Salvation for any of us is found only in Christ Jesus- nothing else. Our good deeds, church attendance, and knowledge of scripture—nothing will have accomplished anything for us as we stand before Him if we have not accepted His death in our place for the forgiveness of our sins and made Him the Lord of our existence.
Most of the things that we strive for in this place serve as a potential distraction from the purpose that God created us for. Some things are necessary in order to preserve the physical bodies that we currently inhabit, but in this place, so many others are not and are only available to create an illusion that we have any need, purpose, power, or existence outside of the God who created us.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”- King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (NKJV)
We miss out on so much, even while we journey here, if we journey without Christ and the Holy Spirit in us- continually engaging in the relationship with God that speaks of the true and sole nature of our purpose to have been created in His image of Spirit to share life and relationship with Him- beyond that… we have no excuse for the life within us.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
If you read this- my response to the question that asks “What do you worry about”, know that if I am worried at all, it’s because I worry that you or anyone else might miss out on the glorious treasure to be discovered and enjoyed for eternity in and with the God who so graciously gave us life to share with Himself and find themselves eternally punished for having denied the only purpose that God gave any of us to live.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJ)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJ)
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