| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “How to inhabit time” Our Bible verse for today: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV) Our thought for today: “Is it more than just a countdown to the end?” One of the problems with a preoccupation with end times theology is that it’s little more than a countdown to the end, and therefore it devalues the individual days of life. Christians with a fascination about the end times seem eager for it to arrive, looking forward to it with anticipation. Sometimes they even seem eager for others to face judgment. An excessive preoccupation with the end is unhealthy for many reasons, but one is that it takes our focus off of the present. We often see that same mindset as people age. Some people are excessively focused on their advancing age, commenting on it frequently, complaining about it, and dreading what they believe it’s leading to. In John 10:10 Jesus said that one of the reasons He came was so we can have life and have it fully. He meant that in the most complete way. He was referring to eternal life in heaven, but it also means life now, in this lifetime. And in that sense, He meant both the full span of our years, and the individual days of our lives. All of it is to be lived fully and lived well – each day and each moment embraced and appreciated for the gift it is. In a church I was the pastor of many years ago, there was an elderly lady named Jane. At that time, she was in her late 70s or perhaps even early 80s. She was perky, joyful, and full of life. She was present at church virtually any time the doors were opened. She served as the Sunday school director and as a women’s teacher, and she was involved in many community activities as well. Jane seemed to be here, there, and everywhere, always bubbly and smiling, always ready to engage in whatever was going on, always looking for someone to help or to encourage. I’m pretty sure Jane regularly made Jesus smile and say, “Yes, that’s what I’m talking about, life to the full.” The days of our lives are more than just a countdown to the end. Each day is a gift from God, and He intends for us to live it fully. I encourage you to do that today. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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