I was struck by the quote from a man named William Jenkyn who once said, “To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle, eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow”. When we are saved, we receive a life with Christ, for this short life, but then for all of eternity. Do you ever sit back and think about heaven? The endless joy and amazement of our glorious Lord in all his glory, the pain free, death free, sin free environment, streets of gold and dwelling places with all our saved loved ones inside? Heaven is truly a beautiful thought, the Lord Jesus himself is a beautiful thought and the fact that he is there for us no matter the circumstance, means that we have our Lord to guide us, but also to show us the next steps and make our paths straight. Paul the apostle records in (Hebrews 13:5), “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
We all have bad days, maybe trouble, testing, potentially even sickness will come/has come our way, and yet, he is faithful, and he will be with us. I once heard a preacher say, “You can be angry for what you don’t have or thankful for what you do have, do your best, and God will do the rest.” As a young person, school/university, part-time jobs and a busy social life, can take a toll on our relationship with God, it is vitally important not to get caught up in the lusts of the world. Things such as money, cars, a relationship, expensive clothes and the latest iphone 300, only go so far and then their desire runs dry. You see with sin, it is a vicious circle because what looks good and seems good and feels good, for the here and now, leads to death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). You may stand out like a sore thumb, but remember, if you honour him and take your stand for him on earth, he will honour you and take his stand for you in heaven.
A sobering thought, but I would rather be the one that is different on earth, than the one who is different on judgement day, which route are you following? Broad is the road to hell which many are on but narrow is the gate to heaven, and few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). Let Christ be the captain of your ship, remember your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and make sure the Lord is your priority, not letting the secular mix with the sacred. It is only Jesus who can save the soul, only Jesus that can satisfy and only Jesus who can love us with an everlasting love whilst meeting or every need along the way. What is holding you back from going on with God deeper? a person? an addiction? a lack of faith? maybe it’s time to remove it from your life and seek Jesus.