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It's Time to Start Living


                Since my birthday is at the end of the year, I get a jumpstart about reflecting on the past year and preparing for the year ahead.  After all that I have been through in the past year, I have a renewed sense of living this life for what it is really all about.  As my mind, soul and spirit connects more deeply than ever to heaven, I see my life on earth in a totally different light.

The writer of Hebrews gives us much insight into this kind of purposeful living in Hebrews 9:27-28: 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.  Real living is receiving each day waiting for Jesus’ appearing.

We need to be ever mindful that we are destined to die.  When our life ends here it is just the beginning of what God longs to give to us.  He loves us so much and wants to remind us that this life matters mainly because it will be judged in some way that will matter in our eternal life with God. 

Jesus came the first time and did His incomprehensible work of bearing our sin.  He made the way for the salvation He will bring at His second appearing.  Since our sins have been covered by the cross of Christ, our life becomes about waiting for His appearing.

Living life waiting for Jesus is the way to start really living.  What does that look like?  It looks like paying attention to what earthbound life is about.  It is about waking each morning and acknowledging that God decided that you would live your life in this century, in this time, in this place.  No one expects you to be able to comprehend the mysteries of the universe and the purpose that God has for continuing the cycle of life of human beings in the universe He created after sin.  God does expect you to open your heart, mind and spirit to the clues He gives about living a purposeful life.

These clues are most apparent in His word.  Really living is about thinking about God—praying often.  It’s about loving His Word, loving and forgiving other people, recognizing the reason He gives you the resources you have and how you can help the poor, and appreciating the abundance of His love that is stronger than the evil of this world. 

Really living is about active waiting.  It is about paying attention to the mean time.  It is about digging into the Scriptures to discover what pleases Jesus most so that you are ready to overwhelm Him with your love when He comes to bring your salvation at His second coming, or when He sends to bring you to heaven. 

I am living today with this purpose in mind.  I am sharing the secret to really living with you in this weekly devotional.  I plan to consider God’s purposes for bringing the people I will meet with today into my life—the lessons He has to teach me and the lessons He wants me to share.  I will take out the garbage, and run the dishwasher because those are necessary chores while I wait. I will pass the time of my life anticipating that I’m going home to where I really belong and the only thing I can take with me are the good deeds I do for God’s glory!

Copyright © 2013  Deborah R. Newman www.teatimeforyousoul.com  All Rights Reserved.
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