Don’t you just hate those whose lives are so perfect. Those who always
have such a good attitude, who can see the glass half full, while you see it
half empty, those who accuse you of being half slow, when really they are half
fast. And we are bombarded daily by ads telling us that if we look better,
everyone will love us, we will feel better about ourselves, and our self esteem
will carry us to our goals in life. Not our dreams, those things formed in the
mind that God gives us, but goals, things we can write on paper, and then cross
off as we attain them. Proving to ourselves that we are in fact successful, and
if we could, give ourselves a pat on the back. “Good job, self, you did it.”
Now everyone will love you and adore you, your new book on how I did it will be
a runaway best seller, and there are no problems we cannot conquer by
ourselves. We will set higher goals, and adjust to fit our egos, while advising
all you losers out there who cannot and will not be successful that we are
better than them. And even if our words do not always convey that message, our
attitudes can and will. Nothing succeeds like success, and it is true, success
has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. And while bragging, tell you that
you are only as successful as your last game.
I watched an NFL show yesterday, where a coach whose team had just won the
Super Bowl, biggest entertainment event on football, interrupted periodically by
the game, that they were to enjoy the win, savor every bit of it, because next
year it won’t matter, only what they did today, so enjoy it now, a new season
starts. They have met their goals, and now have to set new ones, while the rest
of us prepare to watch what essentially is 5 seconds of action, followed by 40
seconds of rest in between. They call it football. Without the rest, the 5
seconds would not be possible, unless you are Payton Manning. Whose goal every
year is to win the Super Bowl, but only has once, does that make him a loser?
But what about his dreams, how about yours?
Matthew, once a scum bag tax collector, writes “seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
And even though this wasn’t written in the Old Testament, so the Apostle Paul
could read it, he had a heart after God. The most successful Christian worker
since Jesus, and at one time their biggest prosecutor, he looked to Him for all
his guidance, and all his dreams. He learned that falling back on the law only
showed our sin, which led to death, but that Jesus led to grace, and salvation.
And he could have boasted of many great accomplishments, among them starting
churches, eloquent speaker and teacher, and best selling author-he wrote most of
the New Testament. But yet we find him confessing in his weakness, showing that
the weaker he is, the strength of God is made perfect in him. And he boasts of
having to be lowered from prison, escaping in a bucket. He would later die in
prison, beheaded for his devotion to Christ, and claim no acclimation to
himself. He sought the kingdom of God first, and then God added onto him, in
ways that couldn’t be measured. Imagine his to do list, how does it compare
with yours? The difference may be as close as Jesus, giving you dreams and a
vision for your life. When you are ready, so you will not argue with God or
change His plans. Wonder why you don’t know the will of God for your life, He
isn’t asking you for advice, or an opinion, He wants to include you in His
plan. He has a place for you. But it is His plan, for you, not yours for Him,
no matter the lies you are told.
I learned all this first hand last summer when I had to be life flighted
and then had my open heart surgery. None of it was my idea, but it was God’s,
and the whole time we knew it was all about Him, not us. How we would begin to
boast about what God had done, and is doing every chance He gives us to share
it. How I had to seek Him, I had to depend on His righteousness, and He added
all the things I needed to my life. And continues to today. So instead of
bragging on my successes, which bring me glory, I rather brag on my weakness, my
sickness, the time when the only hope I had was of God, and there was no way I
could lose. Alive, I could still praise Him and tell others, be a witness of
His love and healing power. Dead, I would be praising Him from heaven, my
first choice, but not yet, in God’s time table. Like Paul, and like you, God
has plans for us, and they include us. So that in our failures we can be a
witness, to show the love of Christ. And if we are only as good as our last
game, I am ready for the final buzzer, with Jesus Christ guiding me into glory
in His strength, not mine. When He gets the glory, you get the blessings. Now
that is what the Apostle Paul would call success.
So next time someone brags about how great they are, ask them if they can
resurrect the dead? Tell them about the worst part of your life, and how Jesus
took you through it, and you were victorious. How without Him, you could only
fail, with Him you can only win. And how you can carry that victory into the
next season, or test, and enjoy it forever. The Super Bowl is once a year, you
have Jesus every day, every season. Best seats available, where the action is.
Where the 5 seconds of testing, will bring you 40 seconds of rest. You will be
refreshed, just like Paul was, when you see the prize that lies ahead. Real
victory will be yours when not measured in points or runs, when you are not paid
for your stats, but when you have run the race, like Paul did, despite all the
adversities, and you will win-forever.
Pray today that God will spend time with you today taking you back through
that toughest time. And then ask Him to show you someone to share it with.
And all these things will be added unto you-alleluia! Take it from a tent
maker, a tax collector, a hooker, and a biker who knows. Even over achievers
have a chance for success in Jesus. Your glass may be only half full, or half
empty, but mine will never run out. Now, back to the game.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com