WOW! I just had a "God Moment!" There was a particular verse I wanted to use for this blog but couldn't remember the address. I just flipped my Bible open to hunt for it, and there is was!
". . . while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
Come with me as I check out KEY #5!
Translucent . . . iridescent (Did you know that means "a rainbow-like play of colors, according to Webster?) . . . glowing . . . words fail me as I attempt to describe the GATE OF THE GOLDEN PEARL. I clutch the treasured Eyes On Eternity Key and speculate what wondrous sight will thrill my eyes when I open this door.
My heart thuds against my chest and my hands tremble as I insert the key into the lock. It fits perfectly, but fails to turn.
I sigh and my heart sinks. Tears sting my eyes. All day as I had wandered through the Land of Abundant Living, I'd felt a gloomy spirit settling around me like a dark cloak that I couldn't throw off. Yes, there are days even is this amazing Land when I struggle to find joy. Life is hard and full of challenges, and I am realizing that life in this world, even residing in the Land of Abundant Living, is not quite enough. Problems and temptations hound me still and I know that total peace will not come until I reach the Land of Eternity. I expected to receive a glimpse of that treasured destination today on my journey. But it is not to be. Sadly, I remove the key and turn aside when I hear a Voice calling my name. "You are not yet ready for Eternity, but you will always possess the Key as you travel herein. One more gift is lying at your feet. Hold it up to the Sun and you will find encouragement to continue."
Somewhat re-inspired, I looked down at my feet and saw an assortment of pennies. How could a simple penny give me encouragement when my access to the Door of Eternity was postponed? I knelt down and chose the one that seemed the most shiny. I stood and turned it around and around in my hand as I pondered the words I had heard. It must be a symbol of something . . . part of this world just outside the Door to Eternity. I held it up to my eyes as the voice had commanded and turned towards the Sun. It looked huge to me and blocked out almost all of the Sun. This can't be right, I pondered. I tried holding it out at arms length, and then I understood. The penny represents all the problems and sorrows . . . sickness and fears that are part of this world and the Sun represents the Son of God . . . Jesus Christ.
When I focus my eyes on my own trials (like the penny), they seem to overtake my life; yet when I hold them at arms length and look at them beside the Sun, they appear tiny in comparison.
Yes, that is how it is. I need to keep my earthly reality in proper perspective, having the surety that one day the Son will overcome and reign in Eternity. Then, as it says in Revelation 21:4, "and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away."
In spite of a deep longing to venture inside this peaceful haven, I know there is much more to explore in the Land before I return to gain permanent entrance through the Door. As I stood there in quietness and calm, fragments of whispy, peace clouds drifted from the Door, tantalizing and exciting my emotions as they wove their way in and though my mind. . . absolute acceptance, reviving rest, supreme security, belonging . . . yes, that was it . . . my true Home . . . my Father's House . . . awaits me inside the Door. When my journey is completed and His plan for my presence in this world is accomplished, my heavenly Father will call me home.
A faint memory brought a smile to my face and enlightened my spirit . . .
"I remember when my oldest child left home for college. She was only traveling twenty miles away to a Christian college, but to me it felt like she was moving to the other side of the world! I went into her semi-empty bedroom, lay down on her bed, cuddled her stuffed animal, and let the torrents of tears fall until I was totally drained. . . The first time she came home to visit, I prepared one of her favorite casseroles, chow mein. But I was so excited that I left out the rice! It was a bit on the soggy side, thought I did stir in some Chinese noodles. No one seemed to mind. We were all so happy to have her home with us again!
Pause for a moment. With your imagination picture our heavenly Father standing at the gate of heaven, waiting with great anticipation for the homecoming of His beloved child. Waiting eagerly for you.
God created this earth as our temporary home. Here, He works through His Spirit and circumstances to develop our character. He uses our hearts and hands to minister to others. He uses our lips to tell others the gospel so more of His wayward children will return home to Him.
God doesn't allow us to be completely comfortable in this world. He intends for us to never forget that our true home is in heaven with our Father." (taken from View From Eternity Bible Study, written by myself)
Comforted with those memories, I was freed to enjoy my journey once again, with the certainty that the Key would stay in my possession until my Father called me Home. Help me, Father, to keep my eyes on the eternal things and hold the temporal things at arms length.
Sooooo now what? Are you putting the letters of the keys together? What do we have so far?
ILIVE Hmmmmm..... got you thinking? :)
Hope to see you next week!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
KEY #A4: VERBALIZATION
First of all today, I want to thank those of you who have left comments and encouraged me greatly by them. I wish I could figure out how to put those comments on my blog page. One of these days, maybe I'll find the proper technique! I am still fairly computer-illiterate, only figuring out slow step by slower step how to do the things I need to do! :o)
Today's Key follows quite naturally from the topic of last week, "Key to Intellectual Integrity." As you may recall, I discussed how the Bible is our only true source of the truth. Today, I will move on into a room I discovered just beyond the Intellectual Integrity Room. This one has a smaller door, almost hidden between two large bookcases. It took me a while to find it. I hope that others coming behind me will continue to seek earnestly for it, because it must not only be important to know that the Bible is the only source of whole truth, but to actually sit down and read it.
I turned the Key of Verbalization and entered a pleasant room, one that is beautiful, cozy and, to my amazement, with a decor personalized for me with my unique tastes in mind. Is is possible that there are specific rooms for other people too, that God has designed for each person? Maybe hidden behind other shelves you will find a room just made for you! If so, I'd love to hear what your room looks like. In my room, a cozy arm chair in shades of blues, lavenders and rose is provided for me. Overhanging is a shining Tiffany-styled lamp composed of a clear, translucent, glowing material, and a large Queen-Anne end table on which to rest my precious Bible from time to time while I meditate on its truth statements and converse with its author. Before me is an assortment of flowers of all varieties and colors, making me think of an English garden.
Enough of that; I will bore any male readers if I continue on in this line.
A thought subtly protrudes into my mind: Maybe all I need to do is sit here quietly for a time, basking in the beauty of my surroundings and resting in the peace. It's probably not that important to actually read the book I hold in my hands. Or I could just wait a while. . . I set my Bible gently on the end table. After all, reading the Bible can't be a matter of life or death! I'm comfortable here and at peace. Maybe I'll just lay my head back and doze a bit. I didn't get much sleep last night.
I find myself floating contentedly off to dream land. In my dream . . . I find myself sitting in on a hard, cold chair in a doctor's office. I have just been told that I only have two months to live. The reality of it shocks me to the core of my being.
As the truth sinks in, my first thought is for my husband and children who will be left behind. An urgency seizes me. Very soon, I won't be here to encourage my children, to share bits and pieces of wisdom God has showed me, to answer questions they have, to support them through the hard times that will surely come. But what can I do?
I will compose letters to each and all of them, as many letters as I can find time to write. I must record everything I can think of that they will need to know about life, so they can read my words when I am not present with them anymore.
Another thought strikes my mind like a discordant gong and my heart trembles with anxiety. Will my children read my letters? All of them?
Suppose someone were to ask them five years after my death what they thought of my letters. Immediately, answers flash into my mind . . . answers that I would NOT want to hear!
1. "I treasure Mom's letters. They are on a special shelf in my living room. One of these days I'll probably getting around to reading them."
2. "Oh, I haven't read them yet, but I will. When I have some extra time. Life is crazy-busy these days, you know!"
3. "My sister read them and told me basically what they said. I don't think I really need to read them for myself."
4. "Bor-ing."
5. "Yeah, I read a few paragraphs once in a while. There's some good stuff in there. I don't think I need to read all of it though.
6. Yes, I sat down and read it all the way through as soon as I got them. It brought tears to my eyes. What did they say, you ask? Well, um, let's see . . . there was something about . . . oh, it was really good . . . let me think . . . "
7. "Oh, I don't think my mother really wrote those letters. They're probably just a bunch of stories somebody found in her dresser drawer."
8. "I don't want to read them. They're most likely just full of stuff she wants me to do, or quit doing."
9. "They are too confusing. A phrase on the first page didn't make sense to me. I don't think I'll bother with the rest of them."
10. "She wrote them so long ago They're not relevant to the way I live today."
11. "If I knew she really cared about me, maybe I'd read them."
12. "What letters?"
I woke up with a start, shook the groggyness from my mind, quickly reached for my Bible and began to read.
Today's Key follows quite naturally from the topic of last week, "Key to Intellectual Integrity." As you may recall, I discussed how the Bible is our only true source of the truth. Today, I will move on into a room I discovered just beyond the Intellectual Integrity Room. This one has a smaller door, almost hidden between two large bookcases. It took me a while to find it. I hope that others coming behind me will continue to seek earnestly for it, because it must not only be important to know that the Bible is the only source of whole truth, but to actually sit down and read it.
I turned the Key of Verbalization and entered a pleasant room, one that is beautiful, cozy and, to my amazement, with a decor personalized for me with my unique tastes in mind. Is is possible that there are specific rooms for other people too, that God has designed for each person? Maybe hidden behind other shelves you will find a room just made for you! If so, I'd love to hear what your room looks like. In my room, a cozy arm chair in shades of blues, lavenders and rose is provided for me. Overhanging is a shining Tiffany-styled lamp composed of a clear, translucent, glowing material, and a large Queen-Anne end table on which to rest my precious Bible from time to time while I meditate on its truth statements and converse with its author. Before me is an assortment of flowers of all varieties and colors, making me think of an English garden.
Enough of that; I will bore any male readers if I continue on in this line.
A thought subtly protrudes into my mind: Maybe all I need to do is sit here quietly for a time, basking in the beauty of my surroundings and resting in the peace. It's probably not that important to actually read the book I hold in my hands. Or I could just wait a while. . . I set my Bible gently on the end table. After all, reading the Bible can't be a matter of life or death! I'm comfortable here and at peace. Maybe I'll just lay my head back and doze a bit. I didn't get much sleep last night.
I find myself floating contentedly off to dream land. In my dream . . . I find myself sitting in on a hard, cold chair in a doctor's office. I have just been told that I only have two months to live. The reality of it shocks me to the core of my being.
As the truth sinks in, my first thought is for my husband and children who will be left behind. An urgency seizes me. Very soon, I won't be here to encourage my children, to share bits and pieces of wisdom God has showed me, to answer questions they have, to support them through the hard times that will surely come. But what can I do?
I will compose letters to each and all of them, as many letters as I can find time to write. I must record everything I can think of that they will need to know about life, so they can read my words when I am not present with them anymore.
Another thought strikes my mind like a discordant gong and my heart trembles with anxiety. Will my children read my letters? All of them?
Suppose someone were to ask them five years after my death what they thought of my letters. Immediately, answers flash into my mind . . . answers that I would NOT want to hear!
1. "I treasure Mom's letters. They are on a special shelf in my living room. One of these days I'll probably getting around to reading them."
2. "Oh, I haven't read them yet, but I will. When I have some extra time. Life is crazy-busy these days, you know!"
3. "My sister read them and told me basically what they said. I don't think I really need to read them for myself."
4. "Bor-ing."
5. "Yeah, I read a few paragraphs once in a while. There's some good stuff in there. I don't think I need to read all of it though.
6. Yes, I sat down and read it all the way through as soon as I got them. It brought tears to my eyes. What did they say, you ask? Well, um, let's see . . . there was something about . . . oh, it was really good . . . let me think . . . "
7. "Oh, I don't think my mother really wrote those letters. They're probably just a bunch of stories somebody found in her dresser drawer."
8. "I don't want to read them. They're most likely just full of stuff she wants me to do, or quit doing."
9. "They are too confusing. A phrase on the first page didn't make sense to me. I don't think I'll bother with the rest of them."
10. "She wrote them so long ago They're not relevant to the way I live today."
11. "If I knew she really cared about me, maybe I'd read them."
12. "What letters?"
I woke up with a start, shook the groggyness from my mind, quickly reached for my Bible and began to read.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
KEY #A3: INTELLECTUAL INTEGRITY
Welcome back! My heart is pounding rapidly because I'm especially excited about this blog. Today, we will open a door that will show us the basic foundation of life!
I have a burning desire to know the Truth. Do you? There are so many belief systems in our world and all of them have a certain amount of wisdom and logic so that, if we don't examine their core statements, it would be very easy to fall into a trap of believing a huge lie and basing our lifestyle on deception. That is not what I want to do!
By the way, I just made a spelling error by leaving the "f" out of the word lifestyle in the above line and corrected it, then thought about it and realized the true statement: We either possess a "life-style"wherein we experience the Abundant Life, or we possess a "lie-style" wherein we are living out a lie that affects the core of our existence in this world and even on into Eternity! Personally, I want the "life-style!" Now, there's a good example of learning from our mistakes! :o)
Now to get down to business: Where do I go for the Truth? What will I see behind this door? As I turn the Key of Intellectual Integrity in the massive door and slowly swing it open, my first sensation is a whiff of fresh, clear air mingled in a pleasant way with the scent of an antique, musty, collection of books, like found in the seldom used stacks of an old, semi-deserted library. Yes, my guess was correct. I see now the expansive room is lined with shelves from floor to ceiling, completely surrounding me and spreading out in every direction, with an endless assortment of literary volumes of all colors and sizes. I am overwhelmed. Must I read all these books in order to find the truth? I take a deep breath, grab a cup of tea from the conveniently located rack near the door, a cinnamon scone topped with clotted cream and reach for the nearest book. As I open it I realize that this one is a Bible. How interesting that a Bible would be the first one I selected! My curiosity aroused, and my mind tingling with anticipation, I hold my breath and reach for the book next to it. This one, too, is a Bible! My eyes sweep the shelves as it appears that this entire collection might be composed of Bibles. Of course! The only book that can be trusted to be a source of total intellectual integrity would be this timeless book, the Written Word of God . . . and only this book.
Can it be? Is it true? How do I know I can believe it?
I see a computer on the table and flick it on. The screen opens with this heading:
"Objective and Internal Evidence Proves the Bible Alone is Trustworthy."
1. More than 5000 ancient Greek copies of all or portions of the New Testament have been found. The scribes who copied the original manuscripts would destroy the entire scroll of only one error was found!
2. No other ancient writings have as much manuscript evidence as does the Bible. The New Testament has about 14,000 copies, as compared to 643 copies of Homer's works, and other classic works which have anywhere from 3 to 20 copies each. The quality of Biblical manuscripts is also unsurpassed.
3. Time span: The Dead Sea Scolls, dating from 200 B.C. to A.D. 68, greatly reduce the time span between the writing of the Old Testament books to our earliest existing copies of the Old Testament, a very low figure.
4. Archaeological evidence has affirmed the historicity of the Bible, along with extra-bibical, historical writings.
5. As science progresses, more and more facts that were once supposed contradictory to the Bible are now revealed to conform to its truth statements.
6. 2 Timothy 3:16 says men, "moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Every word in the Bible is directly given by God. Every part of the Bible is inspired. The Bible does not merely contain the words of God, but it actually is the Word of God. Thus, the original writings, preserved meticulously, are without error.
(*Most of the above list is taken from the reference pages of the New American Standard International Inductive Study Bible)
7. Finally, the Bible has 66 books, 39 authors, was written in 3 different languages (original script), on 3 different continents, over a period of 1500 years. This supernatural book could only have been composed by the hand of God! And the more I study it I am amazed how its message is intricately woven together like a piece of fine artwork, from beginning to end, from Genesis through Revelation.
Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6." and "for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth." John 18:37
Time to quit for this week, though I could go on and on about this precious book! I love it; my whole life is founded on the truth found inside. I base my present life and my eternal future on its truths.
So, now you have the first 3 letters of the word phrase: ILI.....is that telling you anything yet??? Don't be hasty; remember, you only get one guess!
Hope to see you next week!
I have a burning desire to know the Truth. Do you? There are so many belief systems in our world and all of them have a certain amount of wisdom and logic so that, if we don't examine their core statements, it would be very easy to fall into a trap of believing a huge lie and basing our lifestyle on deception. That is not what I want to do!
By the way, I just made a spelling error by leaving the "f" out of the word lifestyle in the above line and corrected it, then thought about it and realized the true statement: We either possess a "life-style"wherein we experience the Abundant Life, or we possess a "lie-style" wherein we are living out a lie that affects the core of our existence in this world and even on into Eternity! Personally, I want the "life-style!" Now, there's a good example of learning from our mistakes! :o)
Now to get down to business: Where do I go for the Truth? What will I see behind this door? As I turn the Key of Intellectual Integrity in the massive door and slowly swing it open, my first sensation is a whiff of fresh, clear air mingled in a pleasant way with the scent of an antique, musty, collection of books, like found in the seldom used stacks of an old, semi-deserted library. Yes, my guess was correct. I see now the expansive room is lined with shelves from floor to ceiling, completely surrounding me and spreading out in every direction, with an endless assortment of literary volumes of all colors and sizes. I am overwhelmed. Must I read all these books in order to find the truth? I take a deep breath, grab a cup of tea from the conveniently located rack near the door, a cinnamon scone topped with clotted cream and reach for the nearest book. As I open it I realize that this one is a Bible. How interesting that a Bible would be the first one I selected! My curiosity aroused, and my mind tingling with anticipation, I hold my breath and reach for the book next to it. This one, too, is a Bible! My eyes sweep the shelves as it appears that this entire collection might be composed of Bibles. Of course! The only book that can be trusted to be a source of total intellectual integrity would be this timeless book, the Written Word of God . . . and only this book.
Can it be? Is it true? How do I know I can believe it?
I see a computer on the table and flick it on. The screen opens with this heading:
"Objective and Internal Evidence Proves the Bible Alone is Trustworthy."
1. More than 5000 ancient Greek copies of all or portions of the New Testament have been found. The scribes who copied the original manuscripts would destroy the entire scroll of only one error was found!
2. No other ancient writings have as much manuscript evidence as does the Bible. The New Testament has about 14,000 copies, as compared to 643 copies of Homer's works, and other classic works which have anywhere from 3 to 20 copies each. The quality of Biblical manuscripts is also unsurpassed.
3. Time span: The Dead Sea Scolls, dating from 200 B.C. to A.D. 68, greatly reduce the time span between the writing of the Old Testament books to our earliest existing copies of the Old Testament, a very low figure.
4. Archaeological evidence has affirmed the historicity of the Bible, along with extra-bibical, historical writings.
5. As science progresses, more and more facts that were once supposed contradictory to the Bible are now revealed to conform to its truth statements.
6. 2 Timothy 3:16 says men, "moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Every word in the Bible is directly given by God. Every part of the Bible is inspired. The Bible does not merely contain the words of God, but it actually is the Word of God. Thus, the original writings, preserved meticulously, are without error.
(*Most of the above list is taken from the reference pages of the New American Standard International Inductive Study Bible)
7. Finally, the Bible has 66 books, 39 authors, was written in 3 different languages (original script), on 3 different continents, over a period of 1500 years. This supernatural book could only have been composed by the hand of God! And the more I study it I am amazed how its message is intricately woven together like a piece of fine artwork, from beginning to end, from Genesis through Revelation.
Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6." and "for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth." John 18:37
Time to quit for this week, though I could go on and on about this precious book! I love it; my whole life is founded on the truth found inside. I base my present life and my eternal future on its truths.
So, now you have the first 3 letters of the word phrase: ILI.....is that telling you anything yet??? Don't be hasty; remember, you only get one guess!
Hope to see you next week!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
KEY # A2: LIVE YOUR LEGACY!
Last Saturday, I was privileged to spend precious minutes with a dear, old friend, Mr. E., who was on his way home to Heaven. As I knelt by his bedside, cherished memories flashed onto the movie screen of my mind . . . of shared laughter, practical jokes, home movies, snowbound days (weeks!), hilarious episodes of water volleyball, neighborhood Christmas parties and long talks sharing our love for our Lord Jesus. Mr, E. and his wife were our long-time, next-door neighbors at the lake of my childhood.
I am grieving . . . Not only for the loss of a dear friend (he and his wife were like family to me!) but for part of myself. It feels to me like when someone close to me dies, part of me goes with them, that part of my life . . . my history . . . that no one else experienced with me.
Mr. E.'s "tent"here on earth was worn and thread-bare, but his spirit was healthy, whole and at peace. He was ready to go and looking forward to his new home. His only expressed regret was leaving his wife of many years. We talked about the reality that he would soon be greeted by my parents with open arms and I asked him to give them a hug from me.
God's comforting and assuring presence was strong as Mr. E, his wife and I talked with God together by his bedside. Formidable mountains of daily duties and events that consume a vast amount of time crumbled into bits and pieces of dust as I contemplated the reality of Heaven. There is something about spending time with one who will soon make that short journey from this world to the next that propels Heaven into stark focus, illuminated as the true reality that it is . . . a forever world, one far more solid than anything I have or will experience here on earth.
Mr. E. leaves behind a rich legacy of grasping with a willing hand many opportunities to share God's love and His Word. He modeled for His children a godly heritage as he lived to please the One he loved the most, His gracious heavenly Father.
Today I hold the "Key of Legacy" in my hand and shiver as I consider the sight that awaits me behind this door. Will I see a sample of my own legacy, broken bits and crumbs of good deeds and kind words that have fallen on the path I traversed so far? With wide expanses of empty space in between? Merely a trail of tiny scatterings left on the pathway I have walked for over sixty years?
Somehow I gather courage and open the door. To my surprise, the only vision is one of three huge, empty stairs leading upwards. Where could they lead? But wait. At my feet is a small piece of notepaper, handwritten with a list of three directions. As I bend down to pick it I realize that I had a misguided idea all along. Evidently, I am not permitted to see any part of my legacy that is in behind me; rather I am being encouraged me to move forward. The brief list is entitled: "Steps to Leaving Your Legacy." Rather than examining my past, mistakes and all, I am compelled to turn my focus to the future.
If I am to live an Abundant Life, I need to Live out my Legacy. So how do I live in a way that makes a legacy possible?
Step #1 tells me to journey in the Kingdom of Life. I need to remind myself constantly that my life on earth is fading fast. The moment we are born we are born we begin our journey to Eternity.
"The Bible makes it clear that two kingdoms co-exist in this world: the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. Each person is traveling toward eternity in one of these kingdoms." (The View From Eternity study, authored by myself) Because I love Jesus and have accepted His costly gift of payment for my sins and eternal life, I know I am traveling in the Kingdom of Light. That is the first step to leaving behind a worthwhile legacy.
Step #2 says to intentionally determine to live in the way that makes a legacy possible. I do want to make good use of my allotted time on this earth. I do not want to waste the one life God has given to me, but to live in a way that will enable me to know God's heart and to demonstrate the love of His heart to others.
But I falter when I consider the type of legacy I have the capability of living on my own. I know I am a frail human being, susceptible to sin and failure.
Step #3 provides the answer to my problem! I must determine to leave behind a legacy that shows the world not how good I am, but how good my God is! In order to do that, my focus cannot be on my own actions, but on desiring God's purposes . . . to live in a way that will enable me to know His heart and to demonstrate the love His heart to others.
So please join me as together we continue onward up the steps to the future, trusting God to piece together a legacy for us as we focus on following Him alone.
REMINDER: Make note of the first letter of this Key and add it to the key from last week and you are on your way to solving the next word puzzle! Be patient; it will probably take a few more weeks until you are ready to make a guess.
Have you signed up yet for your free e-book, Joshua's Story, a true pro-life story of the birth of my youngest son?
I am grieving . . . Not only for the loss of a dear friend (he and his wife were like family to me!) but for part of myself. It feels to me like when someone close to me dies, part of me goes with them, that part of my life . . . my history . . . that no one else experienced with me.
Mr. E.'s "tent"here on earth was worn and thread-bare, but his spirit was healthy, whole and at peace. He was ready to go and looking forward to his new home. His only expressed regret was leaving his wife of many years. We talked about the reality that he would soon be greeted by my parents with open arms and I asked him to give them a hug from me.
God's comforting and assuring presence was strong as Mr. E, his wife and I talked with God together by his bedside. Formidable mountains of daily duties and events that consume a vast amount of time crumbled into bits and pieces of dust as I contemplated the reality of Heaven. There is something about spending time with one who will soon make that short journey from this world to the next that propels Heaven into stark focus, illuminated as the true reality that it is . . . a forever world, one far more solid than anything I have or will experience here on earth.
Mr. E. leaves behind a rich legacy of grasping with a willing hand many opportunities to share God's love and His Word. He modeled for His children a godly heritage as he lived to please the One he loved the most, His gracious heavenly Father.
Today I hold the "Key of Legacy" in my hand and shiver as I consider the sight that awaits me behind this door. Will I see a sample of my own legacy, broken bits and crumbs of good deeds and kind words that have fallen on the path I traversed so far? With wide expanses of empty space in between? Merely a trail of tiny scatterings left on the pathway I have walked for over sixty years?
Somehow I gather courage and open the door. To my surprise, the only vision is one of three huge, empty stairs leading upwards. Where could they lead? But wait. At my feet is a small piece of notepaper, handwritten with a list of three directions. As I bend down to pick it I realize that I had a misguided idea all along. Evidently, I am not permitted to see any part of my legacy that is in behind me; rather I am being encouraged me to move forward. The brief list is entitled: "Steps to Leaving Your Legacy." Rather than examining my past, mistakes and all, I am compelled to turn my focus to the future.
If I am to live an Abundant Life, I need to Live out my Legacy. So how do I live in a way that makes a legacy possible?
Step #1 tells me to journey in the Kingdom of Life. I need to remind myself constantly that my life on earth is fading fast. The moment we are born we are born we begin our journey to Eternity.
"The Bible makes it clear that two kingdoms co-exist in this world: the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. Each person is traveling toward eternity in one of these kingdoms." (The View From Eternity study, authored by myself) Because I love Jesus and have accepted His costly gift of payment for my sins and eternal life, I know I am traveling in the Kingdom of Light. That is the first step to leaving behind a worthwhile legacy.
Step #2 says to intentionally determine to live in the way that makes a legacy possible. I do want to make good use of my allotted time on this earth. I do not want to waste the one life God has given to me, but to live in a way that will enable me to know God's heart and to demonstrate the love of His heart to others.
But I falter when I consider the type of legacy I have the capability of living on my own. I know I am a frail human being, susceptible to sin and failure.
Step #3 provides the answer to my problem! I must determine to leave behind a legacy that shows the world not how good I am, but how good my God is! In order to do that, my focus cannot be on my own actions, but on desiring God's purposes . . . to live in a way that will enable me to know His heart and to demonstrate the love His heart to others.
So please join me as together we continue onward up the steps to the future, trusting God to piece together a legacy for us as we focus on following Him alone.
REMINDER: Make note of the first letter of this Key and add it to the key from last week and you are on your way to solving the next word puzzle! Be patient; it will probably take a few more weeks until you are ready to make a guess.
Have you signed up yet for your free e-book, Joshua's Story, a true pro-life story of the birth of my youngest son?
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