Now, this got me thinking... Not saying that I don't look forward to seeing my loved ones that have gone before me... but how often do you hear people talk about how excited they are to go to Heaven? I myself am extremely excited... but I've always felt kinda like I wasn't "Christian" enough because when people would talk about how excited they were to go to Heaven I was always like "YEAH!" but at the same time I'm thinking... but I know I'm too young now... I'm excited to be living life here! Today I was having a conversation with my amazing God... and I realized that I'm not waiting to go up and be with Him when I die. I spend my time with Him now!
I read a book by Shane Claiborne called The Irresistible Revolution (which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone not exactly pleased with the state of the church) which has an amazing statement in it. Here is an excerpt (I've made some quotes bold for emphasis):
'If you ask most people what Christians believe, they can tell you, "Christians believe that Jesus is God's Son and that Jesus rose from the dead." But if you ask the average person how Christians live, they are struck silent. We have not shown the world another way of doing life. Christians pretty much live like everybody else; they just sprinkle a little Jesus in along the way. And doctrine is not very attractive, even if it's true. Few people are interested in a religion that has nothing to say to the world and offers them only life after death, when what people are really wondering is whether there is life before death. 'As my teacher Tony Campolo used to ask, "Even if there were no heaven and there were no hell, would you still follow Jesus? Would you follow him for the life, joy, and fulfillment he gives you right now?" I am more and more convinced each day that I would. Don't get me wrong. I'm excited about the afterlife... And yet I am convinced that Jesus came not just to prepare us to die but to teach us how to live. Otherwise, much of Jesus' wisdom would prove quite unnecessary for the afterlife. After all, how hard could it be to love our enemies in heaven? And the kingdom that Jesus speaks so much about is not just something we hope for after we die but is something we are to incarnate now. Jesus says the kingdom is "within us," "among us," "at hand," and we are to pray that it comes "on earth as it is in heaven." No wonder the early church was known as the Way.' (pg. 117)Honestly, I'd love to type that whole chapter, but I know it would get too long. I really encourage you to buy the book and read it and apply much of what he says to your life.
Anyways, back to the reason I wrote that part. How many of us are truly living at peace? The "Kingdom of Heaven" is to be at true peace with ones self. Not just in Heaven... but here on Earth! God is showing me daily what it means to 'abide in Him'. I truly allow Him into every area of my life. And I can HONESTLY say that if there were no heaven or hell, I would choose to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior and live every day walking in the steps He's set before me. Because HE is the reason that I am at peace. HE is the reason that I'm not concerned about finances, living situation, or anything else that this life throws at me. I live through Him, He lives in me; A contradiction that makes more sense to me than anything in the world.
So that is my [not so small] thought for the day. And you can be expecting these much more often... daily hopefully, for it is becoming a part of my devotion time with my Father.
