One day last week, just like any other day, I was singing along to my worship music as I drove down the highway in my car. A song that I hadn’t heard in a while, but had certainly listened to hundreds of times before, came on and I sang along with every word. But as the song came to an end and I recited those last few words, I was struck.. struck by their magnitude. “I believe that one day I will see your kingdom come and I wanna hear you say, “Welcome home my child, well done.””
“Well done.” Can you imagine hearing those words come from our Creator’s mouth in response to the life you’ve lived on earth? Just think about how loved and fulfilled you would feel – overflowing with pride and joy from hearing God tell you those beautiful words.. I mean talk about a compliment!
But do we live each day with that as our end goal? To honor God and live in a way that will make Him proud? Does that even cross our minds when we make what seem like minor decisions? Or major decisions?
Do we consider how God would feel or react to the way we treat our parent, spouse or coworker with little to no patience? Or how He would feel about the way we put our hope and security in our finances rather than trusting in His provision?
What would God think about our priorities? What would He think about the things or people that we make time for (or don’t) on a daily or weekly basis? Are our days filled with actions that glorify or point others to Him? Do the people around us even know that we call Jesus our savior?
I’m aware that my purpose as a Christian is to honor God and to help build His kingdom, but oftentimes I get distracted by the things of this world and fill my days with things that will only help me to achieve my worldly aspirations. But why? This life – this world – is TEMPORARY. Yet God’s kingdom is ETERNAL. Why do we live as though these two realities are reversed??
Because of our sins, there is no way for us to enter God’s kingdom in our own strength. But the beauty of what Christ has accomplished on the cross and what He promised us during His earthly ministry is that we don’t have to do any of this on our own. In John 15, Jesus says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
That’s what our focus should be on.. remaining in him. Turning to him. Trusting in him. Growing in him. Every single day.
So open your bible. Go to church. Make time for prayer. Meet with other believers. Share your faith. Remain in him! Because one day as I see His kingdom come, I wanna hear Him say, “Welcome home my child, well done.”
September 18, 2023
