Do you have days where you forget that your life is a vapor and you’ve been put on this earth for just a short time compared to eternity? You’re a mist. Here one day and gone the next. You aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. At any time, any moment your life could be taken from you.
This intro isn’t meant to sound morbid, but to show reality as it is. Because too often, we forget that life is a vapor. Too often, I forget that I’m not invincible afterall.
My friend Whitney and I started going through the book Crazy Love two weeks ago. I shared about Chapter 1 a few weeks ago. Last night, our friend Jen joined us in the discussion. While indulging in the Hollywood-famous Sprinkles cupcakes that Whitney brought us, we had a great time sharing thoughts on chapters 2 and 3.
Chapter 2 is called You Might Not Finish This Chapter. And rightly so. The chapter deals with the reality that we all have an appointment with death and that God determines whether we live through each day. The main takeaway that I got is what do I want to remembered for? Can I actually live my life each day remembering that life is precious? What kind of legacy do I want to leave for friends, family, and my children one day? Am I becoming the person I want to be?
Chapter 3 switches gears and talks about God as our Father. Sometimes our thoughts about God have been influenced by the kind of relationship we have with our earthly Father. Francis’ view of God used to be full of intense fear because his father was that way towards him. He walked on eggshells a lot and rarely heard “I love you.” His view began to change when he had his own kids- he saw that the overwhelming love he had for his children was the kind of love God had for him. He was a God who just wanted his children to crawl up in his lap and enjoy His presence.
The former also isn’t to say we shouldn’t fear God. We should always have a reverent intimacy towards God, but He never intends for us to hide from him because we’re afraid of him. I think the truths in this chapter are huge. A lot of us see God this way. We have an unhealthy fear that he’s casting down lighting bolts when we sin. I’ve had that view at times in my life.
Some of us see him in a light of a performance based acceptance where we feel God loves us by what we “do.” If I could just pray more, read my Bible more, cuss less, go to church more, give more… These are all burdens we were never meant to carry! Those are burdens of “religion.” God never asks for religion but for a relationship where we focus on loving him first- not “doing” all these things. Those things will naturally flow from that love relationship.
This is a lot of stuff to unpack in a blog post, but I hope you’ve been encouraged.
Questions: Do you see God as Love- so much that he sent his son to die in your place? Are you carrying heavy burdens around your neck you were never meant to carry?
Rest in the fact today that the greatest commandment God calls you to is to Love the Lord Your God with all your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength (Luke 10:27).
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