He acts like he’s got hisself in a whole river full of quick sand, and he don’t know what to do about it.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Buffalo Hump’s Totem)
“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”
“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”
–Galatians 5:7 (NKJV)
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I came across a quotation that made me stop and ponder a spell: “We are all going through life for the first time.” I had to stop and ponder what the person might have meant. Was it that we don’t know what we are doing? We don’t know where we’re going? I took as it mostly being used for an excuse for our actions, words, and thoughts. Don’t blame me, so to speak, this is my first time through life.
I know that the writer of Ecclesiastes says that all will end up the same. The rich, the poor; the famous and the infamous; the powerful and the weak; the sick, lame, and diseased along with the healthy–all will end up in the grave. Yes, there is a difference now since the cross for the righteous will go to be with the Lord, the ungodly will go to the place of the dead where all went before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection.
Yes, we are going through life for the first time. Oh, the Cosmic Humanists (New Agers) and Hindus might disagree, but it’s true. But also note, that we only live this life once, and we only die once. There are no second chances as far as life is concerned. Therefore, as Paul writes, we need “to walk worthy of the calling…” (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV) Yes, the calling–the calling that you heard when you became a Christian; the calling you accepted when you turned your life over to Christ. One life to live so, “do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-formed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
If this is the first, and only, time we go through life it would behoove us to get it right this time. No time to delay. Quit making excuses and accept the Lord if you haven’t done so; if you have, then follow His will, His commands, His directions for life. If you don’t know where you are going that is a shame, for I’m on my way to heaven… There is a resting place for the saints over on the other side of the veil of death and this world is to prepare him for it.
Listen, we have a living hope. We have direction, even though this is the “first time” we know where we are going and we know how to get there. We have a hope that does use “first time” as an excuse, one that is not based upon wishful thinking–we have a hope on the reality of Jesus Christ. Jack Graham said, “This living hope means we can persevere through trials, rough spots, and even pain. This living hope means we may stumble and fall, but we will not falter completely because we are in Jesus Christ. And this living hope means we have a future that is sure and that we aren’t alone today.”
“This is my first time through life–give me a break. Life is so confusing and chaotic, and I’ve never experienced it before.” Then turn to the One who can be your Guide through the rough spots in life, the One who knows the way for He lived it Himself. Turn to Him and don’t make excuses.
————————————
I came across a quotation that made me stop and ponder a spell: “We are all going through life for the first time.” I had to stop and ponder what the person might have meant. Was it that we don’t know what we are doing? We don’t know where we’re going? I took as it mostly being used for an excuse for our actions, words, and thoughts. Don’t blame me, so to speak, this is my first time through life.
I know that the writer of Ecclesiastes says that all will end up the same. The rich, the poor; the famous and the infamous; the powerful and the weak; the sick, lame, and diseased along with the healthy–all will end up in the grave. Yes, there is a difference now since the cross for the righteous will go to be with the Lord, the ungodly will go to the place of the dead where all went before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection.
Yes, we are going through life for the first time. Oh, the Cosmic Humanists (New Agers) and Hindus might disagree, but it’s true. But also note, that we only live this life once, and we only die once. There are no second chances as far as life is concerned. Therefore, as Paul writes, we need “to walk worthy of the calling…” (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV) Yes, the calling–the calling that you heard when you became a Christian; the calling you accepted when you turned your life over to Christ. One life to live so, “do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-formed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
If this is the first, and only, time we go through life it would behoove us to get it right this time. No time to delay. Quit making excuses and accept the Lord if you haven’t done so; if you have, then follow His will, His commands, His directions for life. If you don’t know where you are going that is a shame, for I’m on my way to heaven… There is a resting place for the saints over on the other side of the veil of death and this world is to prepare him for it.
Listen, we have a living hope. We have direction, even though this is the “first time” we know where we are going and we know how to get there. We have a hope that does use “first time” as an excuse, one that is not based upon wishful thinking–we have a hope on the reality of Jesus Christ. Jack Graham said, “This living hope means we can persevere through trials, rough spots, and even pain. This living hope means we may stumble and fall, but we will not falter completely because we are in Jesus Christ. And this living hope means we have a future that is sure and that we aren’t alone today.”
“This is my first time through life–give me a break. Life is so confusing and chaotic, and I’ve never experienced it before.” Then turn to the One who can be your Guide through the rough spots in life, the One who knows the way for He lived it Himself. Turn to Him and don’t make excuses.