John 17:18
A man who mentored my husband during seminary was fond to say, “We will be held accountable for all the God given things that we refused to enjoy.” His wisdom came to mind as I heard a thirty-five year old say recently, “I just want to go and be with Jesus.” I get uncomfortable with those words. They sound righteous, noble but truth be told, I believe they are selfish.
Through the years I learned much from this wise man. He recently passed away, having enjoyed his God given life for over 90 years. His life was a constant pursuit of God’s best in the world, in people, in events. Even in his nineties young people flocked around him eager to suck from the marrow of his wisdom. He was the essence of enjoying everything that God had given him. Shortening life wasn’t in his vocabulary.
If Jesus learned how to live in the world then surely I can embrace this life with the same energy! I’m not done with this life! It is difficult to imagine Jesus whining about “just wanting to go home and be with his Father.” With the disciples there were times when he turned his eyes towards heaven in inquiry and the Pharisees’ continual badgering surely gave him a headache. But he never requests to leave His life before His work is done.
Don’t get me wrong! I want to go to see Jesus too – someday. But I don’t want to go before he can honestly say, “well done daughter!”
Jesus, I need Your wisdom to learn
how to live in this world in a way
that honors all the gifts You have given.
Amen.
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