The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 13:1,
"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'"
Clearly Joshua, as Moses' successor, was a great leader and had accomplished much. Here, however, we read that as Joshua had gotten older, there was work left undone by the Israelites. There were "still very large areas of land to be taken over." Joshua was placed in his leadership role for the purpose of taking over the promised land.
It causes me to think of my own time here in this life. As we all have, I have only one lifetime here and it appears to me to be important that I expend that one lifetime by accomplishing all the Lord would desire of me. We all only have one turn in life.
As an aside, all those who have odd notions of "reincarnation" or other notions of some form of going through this life more than once, may I offer the truth about such imaginings? "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28.
Yep, we all only have one life to live, and following that, it's on into eternity (and not a return to this life). After we leave this life, we all, each and every one of us, will face God's judgment of us. I'm certain how we lived our one life and what we accomplished with it will come up during that judgment. The one singular utmost purpose of this life the Lord has given us is to find Jesus Christ in our embrace of him in faith. Following that are the things the Lord would want of the rest of our lives.
How thankful I am for the atonement Jesus Christ made on my behalf, that I do not face condemnation for the many things deserving it in my life! Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
In light of what Jesus has done for me, it seems appropriate that I expend the one life I have been given to pursue or complete whatever it is the Lord would desire of me with that life he has given me.
"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.'"
Clearly Joshua, as Moses' successor, was a great leader and had accomplished much. Here, however, we read that as Joshua had gotten older, there was work left undone by the Israelites. There were "still very large areas of land to be taken over." Joshua was placed in his leadership role for the purpose of taking over the promised land.
It causes me to think of my own time here in this life. As we all have, I have only one lifetime here and it appears to me to be important that I expend that one lifetime by accomplishing all the Lord would desire of me. We all only have one turn in life.
As an aside, all those who have odd notions of "reincarnation" or other notions of some form of going through this life more than once, may I offer the truth about such imaginings? "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28.
Yep, we all only have one life to live, and following that, it's on into eternity (and not a return to this life). After we leave this life, we all, each and every one of us, will face God's judgment of us. I'm certain how we lived our one life and what we accomplished with it will come up during that judgment. The one singular utmost purpose of this life the Lord has given us is to find Jesus Christ in our embrace of him in faith. Following that are the things the Lord would want of the rest of our lives.
How thankful I am for the atonement Jesus Christ made on my behalf, that I do not face condemnation for the many things deserving it in my life! Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
In light of what Jesus has done for me, it seems appropriate that I expend the one life I have been given to pursue or complete whatever it is the Lord would desire of me with that life he has given me.
How wonderful it would be to enter into heaven hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment