10/20/2021
It is quite popular these days to create a bucket list of all the things you want to do before you die, or in other words, before you kick the bucket, but have you heard of anyone who made a spiritual bucket list? When I think of this, the thief who accepted Jesus as his savior while slowly dying on Calvary next to Him comes to mind. He didn’t have much time to experience the many milestones of spiritual life, but he did achieve a few of the big ones when he announced that he believed in God, demonstrated his faith in the fact that Jesus was His Son, and received a dinner invitation to dine in Paradise with the Messiah Himself. I have always thought that he made a slow start, but finished well.
“But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43 ESV
So if you were to take a few minutes today, and compile a bucket list of your own, what would it consist of? Years ago, while I was giving this some thought, it occurred to me that much like the thief I had already checked off some very significant items. While going about your day today, try thinking back to when you first believed, and write down what you might have placed on a bucket list had you made one at that time. Were your expectations very great? Now continue on from there. Are you walking the spiritual way that you thought you would be travelling when you looked ahead on that first day with Jesus? Were your first thoughts simple ones like believing, having faith, rising from the waters of baptism, being good, becoming righteous, and reaching Heaven? These are the basic wants, and expectations of most new Christians.
“So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.” Proverbs 2:20 ESV
I have found that as my relationship with our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit grew in those earliest days, so did my bucket list, and the many check marks that I made on it. Oh, I still wanted to continue living out those early desires and their quickening, but my faith was growing more intricate, mature, and awe inspiring as time went along. I entered into the years where I began seeing visions, dreaming dreams, living in the midst of miracles, groaning in prayers that welled up from deep within my soul, washing the feet of saints, embracing my fellow believers, holding the hands of the dying as I prayed over them, feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, and so many more such things… do these lines I would have written on my list sound familiar to you? Are they on yours today?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 ESV
Then came the middle years when the items grew to be more difficult. These are the years of righteousness when I was lifted from the depths of a lake in Virginia to escape a drowning death, suffered over my children, felt the hands of angels while I was receiving prayer, saw the wings of an angel before me, smelled the sweet incense of Heaven, was told by my granddaughter that I smelled of church, was asked if I was a pastor, or a man of God, by a woman I had never met, but who had dreamed of me the night before, prayed in the spirit while interceding for others, anointed pastors with oil while flying high above the clouds, and many other middle faith things. Are these reminiscent of things you would add to your list? Would you like to write them there now? Well perhaps you should document them because Jesus told us that we would do works such as these… and greater ones too.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12
And now I am in the mature years of my life, and I find that I have climbed high up on the mountain to that place where the ends of the earth are visible in the distance. I look down on clouds, and rainbows, feel the mist rise up from below to dampen my face, make music with men and women who God has blessed with the gift of beautiful song. I long to know the will of God for my life, and see the result of my calling as it reaches around the world, and given power by the inspired pen of the Spirit. I am forever surprised, and thrilled, to be used in such a way, and humbled when asked to heal the sick as the Lord calls and directs. I want to place a checkmark beside the line that reads, loving those that most think unlovable, and finding shelter in the strong tower of God in a storm. I wish I could see into the future, and know the plans that the Lord has for me, but there are certain items I would really like to accomplish… I would like to wash the feet of Jesus, witness His return with my own eyes, ask Him why I was pulled from the lake that day, walk with Him on water like Peter did, stand with Mary on Calvary to witness the salvation of the world, hear the sound of the stone being rolled back from the tomb, and hear the Heavenly Host singing Holy, Holy, Holy, but most of all I want to be made perfect, and to be Holy. What are your desires? What has been written and marked as complete on your bucket list? Are you ready to write the next line of your never ending bucket list; that list which will follow you into glory, and on which the ink of eternity will never dry?
“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all of the wondrous milestones of faith in our lives, and thank you for allowing us to make lists of them, and remember them always. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who takes death from our lives, and transforms our bucket lists into living journals of faith. Help us Lord to see every line on the parchment we carry with us, and to celebrate every item that bears your mark with song, and joyous laughter. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who brings your Word into our lives, and makes us righteous, and Holy as we live them out and make alive what you have given us. Praised be your name for every surprise of faith that we experience, and each new line of righteousness that we jot down during out journey with you. You are merciful Lord as you pour out your grace upon us, and wash us with the blood of Jesus. Forgive us our sins, and make us perfect a Jesus is perfect, worthy as He is worthy, and to live eternally with Him in your house… singing Holy, Holy, Holy, in perfect pitch.
“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness” Psalm 145:1-7 ESV
Rich Forbes