03/22/2021
How hard do we train ourselves in preparation for our life’s spiritual journey, that is in righteousness, abiding with Jesus, and a focus on eternity with God? When we go to the altar for the first time to accept Jesus we most likely aren’t in the best spiritual condition, but our goal should be to train in the ways of Christ, and to listen to the Holy Spirit, as we strengthen our faith and belief, so that we will continue to become pure, righteous, and deserving to be called children of God. Is this how we speak of ourselves... “I am training hard in faith each day!”?
“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV
My children have all left home, and are living their own lives. Each one is at a different point in his or her life. Two have children of their own, one is married with a wife, and one unmarried, but each of them were raised here as children. They were trained as they grew up in my house in preparation for future lives as adults. What I want to tell you today is that one is moving back home with his wife while their 1930s home is undergoing some renovation, and my wife spent the weekend preparing rooms for them.
We had pretty much left the rooms of my two boys as they were when they moved out, and Ann was boxing up all the things they had left behind... clothes that no longer fit or were out of style, old toys and computer games that once held sentimental value or they thought might become “collector’s items”, and other such items. As she was doing this I walked into the room, and we talked about those days when we had children in the house. Then I looked up on a shelf and saw all the sports trophies my son had won during his childhood, and asked her what we were going to do with all of those? She said that he didn’t want them any longer, and had told her to throw them away.
My mind raced back to all of the practices, games that were won or lost, and how each one of those trophies was so important when it was ceremoniously received... but now, they held no value any longer. What once was so important in their young lives had been outgrown, and now they were just clutter on a shelf. Paul was writing about this in our opening scripture... how we train ourselves for the race of life that we are running, but also about how most things are of fleeting importance. However, the most important goal in life should be our faith, and training in it, is this we receive an eternal reward.
“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV
Our day to day lives, and the various trophies we acquire during its course are just like those small golden men who stand on stone bases, inscribed with some accolade, and holding up wreaths, soccer balls, or some other identifying item... when we reach the point in life when we are moving out, and going to our new home in eternity, they will be left behind on a shelf somewhere. What proves to be of real importance to us is our preparation for this transition into an eternal life with God, and the love we have instilled in others.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
So here is the question we need to ask ourselves when we rise each morning... Am I dedicating my time and effort appropriately to those things that are eternal, or am I spending countless hours chasing after wealth, fame, or some other earthly accolade on a trophy that means nothing? There are many things in my life that I once felt were important, and that took up inordinate amounts of my time, but looking back on them I realize that they meant so little... or nothing. Are you like me, and wish you had those hours in life back? Would you spend them differently if you had the chance? Would you allocate them to your wife, children, studying scripture, prayer, or in answer to the will of God that you never had enough time for? To what use would you put them?
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the everyday life I live in the world, but thank you most for the spiritual life I lead that brings me into relationship, and eternity, with you. Help me Father to allocate my time wisely, and put nothing else above you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who never abandons me, and who focuses His attention on loving me. Praised be your name for calling me, leading me into righteousness, and teaching me to love my family, friends, and neighbors as I do myself. Father, help me to place the worldly things that seem so important, into their appropriate place... never allowing them to come before you, and the raising of my children, and others, in faith. You are merciful Heavenly Father, and walk with us through our valleys of death, where we are surrounded by the world’s trophies that are meant by Satan to distract us from you. You are full of grace Lord, and sent your Son to redeem us as we clutched tight to the little golden men of the world, and reveled in holding them high. Help us to exercise our faith in Christ, and belief in you. Blessed is your son Jesus who says leave everything behind, pick up your cross, and follow me, because He alone is our way to you, and eternity. He is our Lamb of God, and the Living Water that quenches our thirst. He is held high by nails and wood that will forever place him above us, and the world. Wash us clean in His blood, and let every sin fall away as you judge us worthy, and usher us into your house forevermore.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
Rich Forbes