Look Up

    Photo ©Mark Faulkner 2010

As fall is on its way out and winter approaches, I am reminded at how everything in this life is only for a season. 

Some seasons of life are short and sweet, while others endure for decades. Some are difficult, and some are exhilarating.

Perhaps more than at any other time in my life, this year has been one of change. People come and go.  Good friends that you thought would always be just a few minutes away move on to another town, and what you thought would stay constant, can change in a New York minute.

Careers come and go. Finances and health can be fickle too.

I guess one of the constant things in my life this year has been that things have consistently changed.

So, why do we cling so tightly to things that are so subject to change, knowing that they will change at some point, sooner or later? And then why do we allow ourselves to become so devastated when the changes come?

So much of how we make it in this life (or not) comes through our expectations.

Half the battle begins with the old serenity prayer,

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change."

Knowing that change is eventually going to come, and then accepting whatever things I cannot change, is to have realistic expectations in this life.  How we react to change can largely determine our emotional well being.

As we appreciate the people and blessings in our life for the time that we have them, being thankful for both the good memories and learning from the bad, and then looking forward to whatever comes next in life, we will fare much better in our quest of learning to be content.

Dwelling in the past, while avoiding the reality of the present, is a recipe for depression, and we will only hinder our emotional and spiritual growth and healing.

For those who are followers of Christ, we are told to "set our minds on things above and not on things on the earth"—which perish and are only temporary. (See Colossians 3:1-3).  Material things, position, prestige, riches, and physical beauty—are all going to change or pass away eventually.  And yet so many of us cling to these things for our sense of well-being and our identity.

Here's a newsflash; it's called Entropy—The Second Law of Thermal Dynamics: everything in this material world and universe is breaking down and decaying. This stuff we put so much of our hope in is all going to perish eventually. 

So why we do we hold on to these perishable things so tightly? 

The things that do not perish are relationships in the Body of Christ. The people in our lives with whom we fellowship in Christ now are all part of the family of God.  If we think that we are enjoying hanging out with folks and having a great meal and fellowship together now... just wait.   It gets much better!

I am so thankful for the amazing friends and family in Christ that I have had the pleasure of meeting in this life.  But I can't wait to hang out with them in the next life.  And we who love and follow Jesus now, even though we can't physically see Him yet, we will one day be with Him face-to-face.  And oh, what a glorious day that will be!

Life on this earth is hard now.  People, jobs, finances, health—they all come and go.  Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it.   It just is what it is.

But this present life is short, and compared to eternity, it is not even a blink of an eye in duration.

So, cling tightly to Jesus, fellow believers. 

And if you don't yet know Jesus, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. It will be the best decision you ever make.

For all those who love Jesus Christ and are patiently watching for His coming... be encouraged by Jesus speaking His promise of hope and redemption to all of us, His people, in Luke 21:28,

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Look Up... The King is coming!

--God is Love and Love Never Fails.