For the 4th of july weekend I wanted to take a daytrip to Athens, Georgia to grab lunch at one of my favorite eateries and to go sightseeing. It seemed like a simple way to celebrate the holiday weekend, I’m with you.
Normally, by this time of year I’ve taken numerous road trips North Georgia to get together with friends and explore the North Georgia, I’d be going to the top now—the pandemic has changed things.
After speaking with my mentor, I was convinced the best thing to do was to stay and enjoy the celebrations at home.
By no means was taking a trip a sin. But, the Christian life requires sacrifices at times; these sacrifices reveal what matters most to us. Despite what popular Christianity teaches, Christians aren’t promised to be drowning in everything they want in life.
Jesus made it clear His followers must be willing to deny themselves daily, that is how we take up our cross. Not by saying the right things—Christian love is doing the right thing, even when it doesn’t make sense.
A decade ago I began taking actions to move back to Colorado where I grew up and feel at home. It didn’t take long for God to close the door. Sure, I could’ve gone anyway, but that would’ve been disobedience. I believe God has kept me in the south for a reason.
I am reminded of what Georgia pastor Bill Purvis once said, “I’d rather be in hell and be in God’s will than be in Heaven out of God’s will—because being out of God’s will, would be hell to me.”
No matter how undesirable the situation, if it is God’s will then it is good for us, and no matter how desirable a situation is, if it isn’t of God, then it is bad for us. That is how God changed me through my accident (Romans 8:28.)
As I post this blog, I was supposed to be on my way to Colorado to visit some friends. Obviously, due to the pandemic that would be foolish and probably do more harm than good. There are times in life when it’s not wise to take a vacation, we just gotta live one day at a time, not 10K days.
Vacation?
Vacationing is a curious thing, according to the dictionary it’s, “An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.” The implication here is that there is no work to be done. Hence, breaks from a vocation.
However, through a spiritual lens, things look different; this world isn’t our home and God has made it clear that the church has work to do in this dark world.
Jesus taught the heart of Christianity is humility and service to others. If we’re alive, God has work for us to do in this wicked world. We are the salt and light of humanity which is more than just being positive—it means penetrating the farthest reaches of a fallen world, count me in.
He told His disciples to go out into the world and be the change; we can’t stay in our comfy little bubbles and let the world go to hell (Matthew 28:16-20.) Our job is to make sure God’s kingdom increases, not our bank accounts, which is crazy if you actually study the Bible.
When the church focuses more on believers than God, it’s no longer Christianity—it is paganism. The world seeks to satisfy itself and never has enough, so when the church seeks its own securities; it is mimicking the world, not Jesus. Our blessings aren’t Earthly, but Heavenly, we live forever.
Jesus taught His disciples to seek treasures in Heaven, not on earth. It breaks my heart that the 21st-century church has gotten our Lord’s teaching backwards.
Backwards?
Years ago John Piper declared, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” When the church focuses more on things of this world and being great here, we take our eyes off of heaven and Jesus. Our Lord taught the kingdom of heaven works opposite of this world (Matthew 9:30.)
• The least is the greatest.
• Humility is power.
• Less is more.
The church should not compare itself to a world that is quickly fading, Heaven is infinity. After Pentecost the church grew as individuals sacrificed for each other, which would heal my heart too.
They were persecuted for being different and washed in the Blood. They never tried to fit in with the Roman society because they were brave and knew they were different. As I look at the state of this world, the church needs to go and get busy, now is not a time for no vacay!
Normally, by this time of year I’ve taken numerous road trips North Georgia to get together with friends and explore the North Georgia, I’d be going to the top now—the pandemic has changed things.
After speaking with my mentor, I was convinced the best thing to do was to stay and enjoy the celebrations at home.
By no means was taking a trip a sin. But, the Christian life requires sacrifices at times; these sacrifices reveal what matters most to us. Despite what popular Christianity teaches, Christians aren’t promised to be drowning in everything they want in life.
Jesus made it clear His followers must be willing to deny themselves daily, that is how we take up our cross. Not by saying the right things—Christian love is doing the right thing, even when it doesn’t make sense.
A decade ago I began taking actions to move back to Colorado where I grew up and feel at home. It didn’t take long for God to close the door. Sure, I could’ve gone anyway, but that would’ve been disobedience. I believe God has kept me in the south for a reason.
I am reminded of what Georgia pastor Bill Purvis once said, “I’d rather be in hell and be in God’s will than be in Heaven out of God’s will—because being out of God’s will, would be hell to me.”
No matter how undesirable the situation, if it is God’s will then it is good for us, and no matter how desirable a situation is, if it isn’t of God, then it is bad for us. That is how God changed me through my accident (Romans 8:28.)
As I post this blog, I was supposed to be on my way to Colorado to visit some friends. Obviously, due to the pandemic that would be foolish and probably do more harm than good. There are times in life when it’s not wise to take a vacation, we just gotta live one day at a time, not 10K days.
Vacation?
Vacationing is a curious thing, according to the dictionary it’s, “An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.” The implication here is that there is no work to be done. Hence, breaks from a vocation.
However, through a spiritual lens, things look different; this world isn’t our home and God has made it clear that the church has work to do in this dark world.
Jesus taught the heart of Christianity is humility and service to others. If we’re alive, God has work for us to do in this wicked world. We are the salt and light of humanity which is more than just being positive—it means penetrating the farthest reaches of a fallen world, count me in.
He told His disciples to go out into the world and be the change; we can’t stay in our comfy little bubbles and let the world go to hell (Matthew 28:16-20.) Our job is to make sure God’s kingdom increases, not our bank accounts, which is crazy if you actually study the Bible.
When the church focuses more on believers than God, it’s no longer Christianity—it is paganism. The world seeks to satisfy itself and never has enough, so when the church seeks its own securities; it is mimicking the world, not Jesus. Our blessings aren’t Earthly, but Heavenly, we live forever.
Jesus taught His disciples to seek treasures in Heaven, not on earth. It breaks my heart that the 21st-century church has gotten our Lord’s teaching backwards.
Backwards?
Years ago John Piper declared, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” When the church focuses more on things of this world and being great here, we take our eyes off of heaven and Jesus. Our Lord taught the kingdom of heaven works opposite of this world (Matthew 9:30.)
• The least is the greatest.
• Humility is power.
• Less is more.
The church should not compare itself to a world that is quickly fading, Heaven is infinity. After Pentecost the church grew as individuals sacrificed for each other, which would heal my heart too.
They were persecuted for being different and washed in the Blood. They never tried to fit in with the Roman society because they were brave and knew they were different. As I look at the state of this world, the church needs to go and get busy, now is not a time for no vacay!
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Is that first picture Amicalola Falls State Park? I hiked up there once. What a view!
ReplyDeleteNo time for vacation indeed. We're on our journey home, and our goal is to bring as many with us as possible.
ReplyDelete