Crestwood Church Blog

By Alan Dodd.

Apparently, people are into making lists. Particularly, lists of things to do - even more, lists of things to do before you die! What is your list like? (If you have one...)

One thing 'to do before you die' is to swim with dolphins. Other things on some people's lists are things that everyone else does but would prefer not to do! Such as buy a useless electrical appliance.

There are things which would be 7th heaven for some - like a visit to a Disney theme park - but then for others that might feel like some form of medieval torture!

I have done some of the things on people's lists many times, such as spend a whole day watching the extended version of all 3 Lord of the Rings movies back-to-back!

But there's something sad about such lists. The lists are really telling us that the importance of life is made up of doing things - but even more - it is saying loud and clear that if you haven't completed your list by the time you die, then you haven't lived.

This puts great pressure on people. And we see it in the way that most people have a sort of ideal life that they want. Get a good education, a great job, get married, have a house, have children, have grandchildren, retire early and cruise round the world, live long and have a healthy life.

The problem with this list is what happens when it's derailed? Because the chances are very high that it will. You'll miss out on all sorts of things during your life. There will be plenty of incomplete ambitions and dreams before you die. One liberating thing about the Christian faith is that this life is not an end in itself. It is only a beginning.

And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Cor 15:19-20

Because we have the promise that our life doesn't finish at the grave, the pressure is off this life. If we fail then it is not a cosmic disaster; we know our future life with Christ in heaven will more than compensate for the disasters or failed dreams we encounter here. This gives us enormous freedom! We no longer have to be driven by our lists of things to do, we are no longer fearful of messing things up, because in the end this life is only the preface, the first page of a book that goes on for ever - as long as we have made that most important of all decisions, to accept Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Then all the other issues become secondary.

Labels: Goals, Life, Perspective

posted by Andi - Sunday, 6 May 2007, 21:26
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Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them.
Mark 9:7-8

Peter, James and John were taken up a mountain with Jesus and before their very eyes he was transfigured– his earthly body revealed something of his true glory. At this time Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus. The disciples declared “let's build three alters - one for Jesus, Moses and Elijah”, they were in awe and fear.

Heaven answered, “this is my dearly beloved Son, listen to him.” God was asking them to focus on the one who really mattered. To the disciples, Moses and Elijah were two of the greatest men that ever lived. Remaining in front of them was 'only' Jesus.

We look for so much in our world, we always want to see great things all around us. Sometimes our delight is on individuals, sometimes it's on material things, sometimes it's on a myriad of other great things, all of which seem important to us. What if we had only Jesus, would he be enough?

The Father would say to us, 'if you could have all the riches of the world, all the world’s superstars and all the great heroes of faith, all the money and splendour of the world - I would still stay “this is my beloved Son, listen to him”. He is all you need.'

You may feel at times, that you 'only' have Jesus, but he is so much more than you will ever need. In him you’ll find life, healing, satisfaction and hope. It’s because of 'only' Jesus you have salvation and a glorious eternity.

Labels: Jesus, Perspective

posted by Andi - Sunday, 18 March 2007, 21:02
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But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

We all face problems, life isn't easy even for the believer, but we have a friend in God who is our hope and an ever present help in times of need. God sees our problems from a very different perspective, from his focal point high up in the heavens, and he is inviting us to soar with him high above this world.

He wants us to look upon him and not just this world. As we do this, we look at our problems from God's eye. One eye gazing on him and the other on our problems.

Just like the eagle soaring high, the mountains, the valleys and the molehills are much the same as they are to God, there is nothing too big or too small for God.

If we never soar with God, we stay in the valley and we are constantly surrounded by our concerns. As we trust in God and believe in his Word we are strengthened, we start to overcome our troubles and see that nothing is too hard for God. All things are possible!

Labels: God, Life, Perspective, Problems

posted by Andi - Sunday, 14 May 2006, 16:14
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