From Death to Life

I came across this assignment that I wrote, with my dad's help, back in 11th grade. I had an English teacher who was a little morbid and obsessed with death and things of the sort. She gave us two unusual assignments. One was to make our own tombstone (out of cardboard) and write our 'last word' and the estimated year of our death on it. The second assignment was to write our own epitaph. Being a Believer and knowing that there is life after death, I desired to use it as an opportunity to share Christ and the eternal life He gives. Here they are...

Tombstone- I chose to put one verse:

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies…do you believe this?” John 11:25

Epitaph:

From Death to Life

project due in 11^th grade (3/14/95)

Looking back over my life that seemed,

Endless, tiring, and so long

I’ve come to realize that life is but

A vapor and soon gone

The world spoke of doing my thing and seeking a way of my own

But this only led me to futile pursuits

And fruitless seeds sown

Looking back I realize the wisdom of man is

Foolishness and limited to three score and ten

And my conscience regularly reminded me of

My accountability before God and men

Though Temples, Cathedrals, and Shrines

Give the illusion to appease

It is the revelation of God’s true love

That brought me to my knees

For humanity fears death and

Self-righteousness blinds so no one can see

The ultimate purpose of life

Is to trust in the one who conquered death

And gained the victory

For whenever or however

You pass through death’s door

There’s no turning back

For it was while I was living

That I trusted and now I am eternally secure

A Life of Worship

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

What is Worship?

        When the Bible speaks of worship, over and over again we are reminded that the essence of true worship is found in one word—humility.

It is when we are truly and genuinely humble that we will see our sin, deal with it, and ultimately see the purpose for worship—

“To ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; to worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”

It seems that worship can easily become what we think it should be and limit it to fit our ideas. However, in 1 Chronicles 16:31-33 and Psalm 96:7-13, it speaks of the whole earth worshipping—the seas, the fields, the trees…but how do they worship God? They cannot sing, lift their hands, or play an instrument. They don’t even have a heart, soul, or mind to meditate upon the Lord—so how does the Lord receive worship from His creation?

It’s simple. The seas, the fields, the trees…all of creation are doing what they were created to do. God made everything in creation to serve a purpose; the LORD receives worship when they fulfill that purpose.

In reality, the part of creation that is not obedient to do what it was created to do is humans. Isaiah 43:7 says, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” We were created to glorify God and to serve him with a life surrendered to Him, yet how often do we choose our own way? How often do we defend our own rights? How often do we forget the One who created us?

True worship is more than singing a song, meditating on a thought, or playing an instrument. Worship is a lifestyle. It is a life being lived for God and God alone. God receives more glory and honor from one life that is fully surrendered to Him, than from a multitude of praise songs sung from people who don’t regard him once the music stops. Worship is an outpouring of a heart that has been awakened by Jesus.

Let us not limit worship to only a couple of formal, traditional views because it is a lot deeper than that—it is a life hidden in Christ. When we come together to sing praise to our King, let that time reflect a heart and life that is living to the praise of His glorious grace. 

Pursue Peace

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Hebrew 12:14

The idea of a ‘pursuit’ often settles in a woman’s heart like a fairytale. This concept seems to bond with the memories of a little girl pretending to be a princess who is awaiting her prince.  As she is twirling around in a beautiful dress, she is waiting for her prince to pursue her, to fight the treacherous dragons, and to rescue her from her tower of solitude and, of course, live happily ever after.

The fairy tale dream may differ for each woman, but the ending always seems to be the same. She desires to be pursued, to be loved and to have peaceful relationships. But, at some point along the way, reality sets in and life seems to take a different course. Peace and love don’t seem to come as easily or as naturally as the little girl in her has so desperately hoped for. Relationships come and go and her life seems to be marked more by heartache and conflict than by love and peace. 

The older I get the more I am aware of my own depravity and the more I encounter the depravity of mankind. Relationships united by love and peace are a rare commodity. I imagine the writer of Hebrews knew this and that’s why he implores us to ‘pursue peace with all people.’ As women, we want to be pursued. We want to be desired. The writer knew that we would need more than what earthly relationships can offer. We are reminded that relationships will not be easy and that is why the writer continued and said, “pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” God is holy and by pursuing his holiness, we will be pursuing his heart. I find it interesting that the writer of Hebrews associates our relationship with God to our relationship with others. The depth of our relationship with the Lord will directly reflect the depth of our relationship with others.

Only when we begin to learn and delight in the heart of God will we be able to discern those things which He desires and pursues. We will learn that our lives are to reflect his heart and we are to pursue peace with all people because the God we serve is the God of all Peace. So, whether single or married may we not forsake our call to pursue the heart of God and reflect his peace to the world.

That the World May Know

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is on this earth? Do you sometimes think that you were made for something more? Well-known philosopher and author, C.S. Lewis, has said,

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

So often it is easy to get caught up in our day-to-day activities and responsibilities that our focus can shift from the needs of those around us to our own troubles. At the same time it is easy to become so pre-occupied with church functions and events that our focus can change from God’s purposes to our own plans. With this in mind, may I ask the question, “What is God’s purpose for us?” I don’t believe the answer to this question is meant to be a mystery. In fact, Jesus himself gives us the answer!

In the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed for us saying,

“...May they be become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." John 17:23

In fact, for us to become "perfectly one", or as other versions say "complete unity", was such a desire of Jesus that he expressed it three times throughout his prayer. We are made 'perfectly one" through a relationship with Jesus Christ for salvation. It is by this relationship and through this relationship that we are compelled to tell the world of the Grace of God. Prior to his ascension into heaven Jesus’ final words authenticates his desire for the world to know this unity. He commands us to be his witnesses to the world and make disciples by teaching them how walk in his truth.

"Go...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." Matthew 28:19-20

Above all, as Believers, we are called to live our lives in such a way that we are the representation of the One True God to the world. May we strive to be globally-minded people who are unified in the faith and actively pursuing the unreached people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.