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“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace," – Romans 8:6
Morning comes again and the clock, in it’s most annoying tone, awakens his old bones. He swings his legs from the bed and runs his hands through his thinning hair. Finding his glasses on the night stand, he closes his eyes and slides them over the bridge of his nose and behind his ears. There, now he can, at least, see the floor without stepping on anything. Ever since she died he had failed to tidy up the place and had lost energy to even make it past the front door of their small home in the hillside of their community. A month or so had passed, and he questioned why even get up in the morning, what was there to look forward too. The children had long since left, back to their homes and families; and her sister never even came for the funeral. For 62 years he had woken up next to her and placed his lips upon hers to start the day. Now, it was just him, and the quietness was deafening.
In the corner of the room on the dresser he saw her Bible. Worn, torn and aged. He recalled the hundreds of times she would have sat in that rocking chair in the corner with that book open, deep in prayer about one of the children, or the bills, or the ladies at the church. She carried it with her everywhere she went and often times would be found with her nose buried in it while sitting at the park or at a stoplight in town. Countless times she had tried to tell him about Jesus, but in his stubbornness, he waved her off and went on about his chores around the yard and the barn. He picked up the Bible, held it in his hands and looked heavenward. “Why did you take her from me? She was all I had.”, he screamed.
Inherently, he knew there was a God, and that his Esther was up there with Him. His Momma had preached and prayed over him as a child, and his wife as an adult. His Daddy had nothing to do with religion and went to his grave cursing God over a broken bottle of whiskey. What was he supposed to do now? Who could he turn to in order to better understand this Jesus and the story of salvation. He sat down in her rocking chair, and lowering his head into his hands, he sobbed. He grieved over his loss, but also over his selfishness and callousness throughout their marriage. What would happen to him? Would he ever see her again? How does one gain eternal life? Questions raced through his mind. His motives were selfish once again though. He wanted to see his wife in heaven, he wasn’t seeking the King of Kings. The phone rang. It was the local Pastor checking up on him to see if he needed anything from the grocery store. Imagine that; God’s perfect timing once again displayed in the present.
This could have been any farm house in any city in any country around the globe on any given day of the week. There are those who serve Jesus Christ every day of their life, faithfully, strong and lovingly. Then there are those who can only come to Jesus in the direst of times, at the bottom of a pit, the rock bottom. Sometimes God uses a death to change someone’s life forever. We will never grasp the reality of that, but it is so true in so many circumstances.
Who are you praying for? Who are you sharing the gospel with? If you suddenly passed away tomorrow, would there be enough evidence with those around you to know without a doubt that you were in heaven? What are you doing to help those around you come to know Jesus? Why don’t you think it’s important enough to stop what you’re doing and call them? I am challenging you today to make a difference in the world. I’m not talking about going to work, and sitting at a desk or working on the line to make money for your company and put food on your table. Why aren’t you doing something grand for Him with the one life He gave you?
Let it be known when you pass away that you served, you loved, you preached and you prayed for everyone around you, such that they may also be in heaven with you one day. It’s important enough to set your other priorities aside for a little while.
In the corner of the room on the dresser he saw her Bible. Worn, torn and aged. He recalled the hundreds of times she would have sat in that rocking chair in the corner with that book open, deep in prayer about one of the children, or the bills, or the ladies at the church. She carried it with her everywhere she went and often times would be found with her nose buried in it while sitting at the park or at a stoplight in town. Countless times she had tried to tell him about Jesus, but in his stubbornness, he waved her off and went on about his chores around the yard and the barn. He picked up the Bible, held it in his hands and looked heavenward. “Why did you take her from me? She was all I had.”, he screamed.
Inherently, he knew there was a God, and that his Esther was up there with Him. His Momma had preached and prayed over him as a child, and his wife as an adult. His Daddy had nothing to do with religion and went to his grave cursing God over a broken bottle of whiskey. What was he supposed to do now? Who could he turn to in order to better understand this Jesus and the story of salvation. He sat down in her rocking chair, and lowering his head into his hands, he sobbed. He grieved over his loss, but also over his selfishness and callousness throughout their marriage. What would happen to him? Would he ever see her again? How does one gain eternal life? Questions raced through his mind. His motives were selfish once again though. He wanted to see his wife in heaven, he wasn’t seeking the King of Kings. The phone rang. It was the local Pastor checking up on him to see if he needed anything from the grocery store. Imagine that; God’s perfect timing once again displayed in the present.
This could have been any farm house in any city in any country around the globe on any given day of the week. There are those who serve Jesus Christ every day of their life, faithfully, strong and lovingly. Then there are those who can only come to Jesus in the direst of times, at the bottom of a pit, the rock bottom. Sometimes God uses a death to change someone’s life forever. We will never grasp the reality of that, but it is so true in so many circumstances.
Who are you praying for? Who are you sharing the gospel with? If you suddenly passed away tomorrow, would there be enough evidence with those around you to know without a doubt that you were in heaven? What are you doing to help those around you come to know Jesus? Why don’t you think it’s important enough to stop what you’re doing and call them? I am challenging you today to make a difference in the world. I’m not talking about going to work, and sitting at a desk or working on the line to make money for your company and put food on your table. Why aren’t you doing something grand for Him with the one life He gave you?
Let it be known when you pass away that you served, you loved, you preached and you prayed for everyone around you, such that they may also be in heaven with you one day. It’s important enough to set your other priorities aside for a little while.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
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For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
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