One Life

If I were speaking to my three adult children this morning (well, two adults and one very independent 17yo), I would remind them that this is the only life we get on this side of heaven. We have one chance to live our lives well, to find the Lord, and to live out His predetermined purpose for us. This life is preparation for the next, so we need to spend our time wisely.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-22

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

Matthew 7:21

This is my one life.

I remind myself often that I get one chance at this. God has a plan for me, so I better get about fulfilling it while there is still time! I don’t want to arrive at the end of my life and be filled with regret.

And I don’t want to waste my time working harder for “things”: bigger house, better car, grander vacations. I want my life to mean something to God. He has done a lot for me, so I want my loyalties to lie with Him… but it’s not easy.

Sometimes I am slow at getting around to true obedience. Maybe you are, too.

I am blind to it, or I am resistant or stubborn, and don’t want to do it. It’s easier to scroll on my phone than it is to pray, especially when I’m tired. It’s more entertaining to binge another episode of one thing or another than it is to read my Bible, which sometimes feels like work.

Study a few hours a week to work on this blog, you say? I get tripped up on my words. I don’t know what to say. Why would anyone want to listen to me?

Sitting down on myself.

All of the above is what I call sitting down on myself. I have gifts and a calling on my life that involve no one else but me and God Himself. The same is true for you. You are a superstar in the eyes of the Lord because of what Jesus did for you (James 1:18)… and He created you and saved you for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10, 1 Timothy 6:18-19)!

Why will you (and I) not step up and be all you (and I) have been created to be?

Life is not perfect. Do not give up.

There will inevitably be times of disappointment, heartbreak, maybe even devastation. In those moments, take time to rest, grieve, pray, seek wise counsel, do whatever you need to do. But no matter what, DO NOT SIT DOWN ON YOURSELF!

Do not give up. Give yourself permission to heal, but never give yourself permission to quit!

That has honestly been one of my greatest fears for my children. That they will succumb to disappointment and quit on themselves, and on God. I pray for them often to be blessed with grit, determination, and the power to keep moving forward.

This is the promise I claim on their behalf as they live out their one life… Maybe you need this one, too…

He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might He increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Yes, we may need to shift gears. The roads we follow will always be filled with twists and turns. But changing directions is not quitting.

Yes, we will need to stop our human “trying” and give things over to the Lord. His ways are better than ours! But sitting still and trusting God is not giving up.

As long as we do not quit, we are still able to move forward… and that is something we are all called to do!

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13b-14

If you have already quit…

If you have already quit, since you are still alive and God is still God, it is not too late to call out to Him. The fact that you feel the way you do right now means that He is calling out to you, as well (John 6:44). He can be trusted. You can take Him at His Word. Stand back up and take hold again of His calling on your life. His gifts and callings are without repentance (Romans 11:29), so on this side of heaven, He will never take them back. He is with you, and He is always helping you, so go ahead and take that first step in His direction! Seek the Lord while He may be found! He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Read Jeremiah 31 to discover how the Lord rebuilt Israel and turned their mourning into joy! He desires to do the same for you.