Okay, I drove ALL night and didn’t get much sleep, so this could get interesting. Hang on tight.
I had a Facebook friend–okay, so he’s possibly only virtual, but that’s better than nothing right now–send me a greeting just after the beginning of the new year saying something to the effect that he doesn’t want me to look back with regrets when I arrive at my destination this year.
The first question that popped into my mind was, “what destination am I going to that he knows about and I don’t?”
The next question I asked myself–since there wasn’t any real people near me–was, “is the destination the main thing I should be focusing on?”
Many people–whether real or imagined–focus on the destination at hand. Problem with that is most of life occurs during the journey to that destination.
Goal setting gurus will tell you to break your large goals down onto smaller, do-able actions. Eventually you’ll reach your objective. Without noticing it you’ve grown with each step along the way. By the time you’re “there” you’re different, only still you. I think. I warned you I didn’t get much sleep.
Look at Jesus’s life as an example. He came to earth to die for the sins of every person ever created, but did He just head straight to Jerusalem and wait for His execution. For heaven’s sake, no.
Jesus enjoyed the time He walked on this dusty planet. He made some friends who owned a boat and enjoyed fishing with them. Took an occasional stroll on that lake with a friend. Broiled fish for breakfast. Calmed a storm or two. You know, just chillin’ for the Creator of it all.
When He went to the big city He picked up the downcast and neglected folks of society. Told stories, sometimes around a fire. Put the high and mighty in their place. You know, just setting things straight for the One who made us all.
Just before He did die on the cross He spent some intense time in prayer. There was this occurrence He’d never experienced in all of eternity to be dealt with. I’ve seen the same thing happen when parents drop their toddlers off before they head off to church.
Jesus had some separation anxiety issues to handle. You see, He had never been separated from His heavenly Father…ever. I mean from before anyone else existed. Like always before there was an always type of forever.
This extreme event happened because Jesus took ALL the sins of the world on Himself when He died. That was why He died after all. Because of that sin He had to be separated from the perfect Holy God. He just had to cuz God can’t be with that much filth and stench and yuck. He just can’t.
You know something? Jesus didn’t look at that destination as the means in and of itself. No, He was looking past that event to the real destination still to come. Those of you who know where I’m going with this are shouting “Hallelujah!”
There’s an always still to come. I mean the type of always that will exist after all the alwayses you can imagine. It’s called eternity future.
There’s a kingdom being establish there in that eternal eternity. Guess who is going to be sitting on that ultimate throne? That’s right, the guy who took all that abuse and torture and ridicule and humiliation that we all deserve. He had none of that coming to Him, except for the love that held Him on that cross.
Yeah, those puny nails didn’t hold Him to that wood. Jesus willed himself to stay there and bleed each drop for you and me.
He could have stopped it in a second. Angels could have been with Him to mend His wounds. But, that was never the plan. He stuck with the plan to the end so we can enjoy an end without an end with Him in heaven. You better be shouting “Hallelujah!” now
This life you’re living is one big dusty journey. We all have an ultimate destination to go to after we die. Where you spend that destination is up to you.
Those of us who trust Jesus’s death as the death we deserved so we can live the life only He can give are going to be with Him forever.
Everyone else is going to a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth according to Jesus. He should know since He’s the One who made it all. That’s why He makes the rules and chooses his friends and adopted siblings.
I sure hope you take this journey you’re living to find your way to the forever home of peace and joy for always and forever.
Keep smiling. Wade
