I asked a boss of mine once what he looked
for when hiring, his answer surprised me, “ten years.” He felt if you could get
a commitment of ten years, you could achieve success and make his job easier.
So much for the five year plan that was popular before the bucket list became
the next trendy idea. But ten years, I can’t think ahead five minutes let alone
five years, and you want me to commit to that long a time? If asked, how many
times have your views, dreams, and ideas changed in the past thirty days, let
alone five years? Some of us live from crisis to crisis, never coming up for
air, five more years of the pain and suffering? Or even if asked after a good
day, how would your answer change? Moving on up as the Jeffersons did, or
movin’ out, a big difference, just ask a college grad living in his parent’s
basement for a few years. It seems in every generation, in every age, in every
career, movin’ out or moving up may be a dream, but never a reality.
I remember making $2.25/hour, and my boss
making $5.00, oh all the things I could do with all that money. Then it was a
$1000/month, then a week, and life that was supposed to be better, got harder,
the more I made, the more it demanded of me in my time and my money. So money
wasn’t the answer, short or long term. We seem to think we have unique
problems, but really we are more alike than we care to admit. It was only after
I was asked about an eternal plan, not five years but millions of years, that my
mindset changed, and so did my life. Jesus tells us that we will not encounter
any temptation that is not uncommon to man, that can be a relief or a curse.
But when becoming a true Christian and letting the spirit lead, suddenly life is
injected with life, and it changes as Jesus changes us. Think you’re having it
rough, consider Moses and the Israelites for a moment....in the day before
indoor plumbing and fast food....
It had never been easy for Moses or the
Jewish people. The Egyptians treated them as property, worse than cattle
sometimes, and not as valued people or even people. But God let Moses know he
saw their affliction, and things were about to change. He would take them out
of their temporary affliction, and into a promised land. You can be sure each
one had a different view of a promised land, but few would have agreed with
God. The key was that their present situation would not be their permanent
reality. As believers in Jesus Christ we too have that promise, that he will
lead us out and into a better place, yet many Christians suffer needlessly.
When we truly know and trust God, we can see beyond our present situation, past
the moment, and even past the five year plan we have made.
At present, I'm well aware that some of us
are experiencing health needs, emotional needs, family needs, and financial
needs. These are not uncommon concerns. These are the common struggles that we
all face in the midst of our sojourn on this earth. But for those who walk with
Christ, and know Him by name, these are momentary afflictions, not permanent
conditions. Just as the people of Israel were emancipated, through Christ we
have been freed from our slavery to sin, and assured of our permanent place in
God's eternal kingdom. We too have a home in a Promised Land. When we think
eternal or whole perspective of God and life change. So what is your eternal
plan, and does it line up with God’s?
God knows your name. Be known as one who
knows His name, and rest in the fact that He who spoke creation into existence
also holds your life in the palm of His hand. Maybe if we look back five years
and see how far God has taken us, we can focus better on him. He knows the
plans he has for us, not hidden, but you must trust with all your heart, more
than a bumper sticker or phrase, it is scripture, God speaking. And he has
given us his spirit so we can connect with him and know, but still leaves the
decision up to us, for true love demands a choice, it cannot be legislated or
forced upon us. Yet how many times have you been dragged kicking and screaming
into blessings? He also says obedience is better than sacrifice, can I hear an
amen?
We will only die once here on earth, no do
overs or second chances if you don’t like the results. The gates of hell keep
you in, only Jesus keeps you out. So what is your eternal plan, does it include
Jesus? Do you even have one? God has one, and you can be a part of it, it is
your choice. Death if done right to a Christian is the continuance of a
relation with Jesus, if not, hell is a continuance without him. We will all
face death, we don’t know the time, the place. or the way, but we can know where
we will end up. Only Jesus can change your today’s situation and also your
tomorrow’s. If you only trust in his death but not his resurrection you are
missing out, suddenly five years seems such a short time....
And ask any Israelite that travelled with
Moses, it’s worth the trip, even their shoes never wore out. Can you say that
about your Nikes?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com