I was praying this morning and trying to think of what must have been going through the mind of Jesus a little over 2000 years ago as His crucifixion was rapidly approaching. Do you think He was dreading being scourged with a whip, beaten with fists, nailed to a cross, humiliated, cursed, spit upon, forced to drag a heavy cross through the hilly streets of Jerusalem, have a crown of sharp thorns driven into his head and spikes into his wrists and feet, or a spear thrust into His side, or do you think that perhaps He was thinking of the horror of taking on all of the black despicable sins of the world and having God the Father turn His back on Him?
I think not. My bet is that He was thinking of us and how His sacrifice would enable us to be together for eternity. The Bible tells me that He was looking forward to the joyous day when He could personally greet you and me and welcome us into heaven, put His arm around us and hug us, (His beloved sons and daughters), and personally escort us to our newly completed mansions that He lovingly prepared for us.
Last night I had dinner with one of the largest vegetable farmers in the United States who hails from right here in sunny Florida and who’d come to Honey Lake to sample some of our excellent turkey hunting this morning. This man is someone who loves the Lord with passion. I admire him because even though he has been blessed with tremendous wealth he has not lost focus on God and he is not afraid to discuss his faith publically.
As soon as he arrived last night, he wanted to buy some of my books, (Miracle on Luckie Street), and then have me personally sign them so he can give them to various people he knows in an attempt to help them find a better way. At first he was going to buy three, but as soon as I finished signing those copies, he added another, and then another, and another. This is not odd behavior for him and over the last couple of years he has literally given away boxes of them to friends and employees.
We were having dinner and I was telling him about a mutual friend who has gone from being very private about his testimony to boldly proclaiming it (from the pulpit no less). I went through the same phenomenon and was initially very reluctant to share my testimony. It is embarrassing and humiliating to me for folks to know of my former life, but I’m exceedingly glad that I made that decision to sacrifice my personal feelings in order to follow Christ in obedience.
Not a day goes by anymore that someone doesn’t write and tell me that they benefitted from hearing or reading my testimony. So my small sacrifice of deciding to go public with my story so many years ago, (regardless of the shame of it all), has helped thousands of people in their walk with Jesus Christ and many have made first time decisions to follow Him.
That means that my obedience to God has planted a seed that God can make grow, blossom, flourish, mature, and at a time that is perfect for His plan harvest for His glory. Those folks will then have their own mansion in heaven, (hopefully next door to mine), instead of being lost in darkness for eternity where there will be intense suffering and gnashing of the teeth.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Our testimonies don’t belong to us; they belong to God and should be used to glorify His name. If you are saved by His blood, He did a mighty work in your life and that story needs to be told to others.
We are rapidly approaching Easter. What’s going through your mind?
Hmmm… I hope it’s not just the upcoming visit with the Easter bunny and egg hunt with the kiddos. I hope you aren’t all hung up on problems at work, or in your personal life, or calling up a big turkey today. My prayer is that you are at least thinking about this being the holiest and best week of the year. I pray that you are reflecting about this being the beginning of those days when God accomplished the most significant achievement since creation. He overcame sin and death once and for all through His Son’s sacrifice.
Emulate Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago today. Don’t focus on your immediate situation and your problems, even if they are looming straight away in front of you; instead focus on eternity and helping to plant seeds that will enable others to find Jesus Christ in their lives. Boldly go forth today and tell someone how they can have what you have. Experience the joy from it that can be tasted today! Life is but a vapor. Selah…
Hebrews 12:2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.