Never...and That's a Long Time

Never...and That's a Long Time 

We think in the somewhat microwave moment.  We also can see, in the lives of the believer or nonbeliever that indeed, as the Bible says, eternity is set in the hearts of mankind. 

We make vain attempts at a secure future in this world, yet either remember this is only temporary or we don't. 

Perspective is everything about everything.   You cannot live life as God intended for you without perspective.

Your view of eternity ought to be reflected in your present. 

One of the chief things that Satan tries to do is convince people of how the things of God aren't as important as the Bible says that it is. That it's ok and acceptable to embrace aspects of our world that truly are not beneficial to our Spiritual growth. 

We are enticed in our early stages of life towards things and feelings.  Attached to food, to smells, to toys, to clothes, to entertainment of every type and kind. 

Yet we are all too often not looking at things from God's viewpoint.  

Never is a very long time, it's identical in scope to eternity in many respects.  

We see the encouragement of the writers of the New Testament towards a right perspective on life, on living, on the work of Jesus in you and I.

I have had many hours in recent days to think about life.  In my thinking it's been rough.  Life is far from normal for me.  It's without many distractions because literally almost all my distractions are boxed up waiting for a move to take place. 

In recent years I have been through many different things that God's used to remove distractions.  Most were painful in the removal process. But I asked for it!

To be useful to God means being taught what I need to let go of. Thoughts and feelings that have no place in the work that God has in mind for me to do.  

Never would have thought about the things that He says must go.

Never would have thought of the consequences to things that I allowed in my life would do to me.

Never would have considered the offenses my choices were and are towards my God. Still don't fully grasp them all in all truthfulness. 

But also I woke up to a Micah Tyler song in my head. "Never Been a Moment".  He's reminding me that there's never been a moment that many things in life were entirely as they seemed. 

"Never Been a Moment" Micah Tyler 

I've been a sinner, I've been a saint
A little bit of both every single day
I've been lost, but somehow I've been found

There's been some pain, been some regret
Been some moments I'll never forget
But when I look back from where I'm standing now

There's never been a moment
I was not held inside Your arms
And there's never been a day when
You were not who You say You are

You're forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through
'Cause no matter where I'm going
There's never been a moment
That I was not loved by You

Loved by you
Loved by you

You've been the Rock, you've been the peace
Always showing Your good heart to me
My days are marked by grace I don't deserve, no

You've been the price I could never pay
You've been the light that has led the way
No matter where I am
Oh, I am sure

There's never been a moment
I was not held inside Your arms
And there's never been a day when
You were not who You say You are

You're forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through
'Cause no matter where I'm going
There's never been a moment
That I was not loved by You

Loved by you
Loved by you

So where could I go
That I could wander from Your side
And where could I run
And never leave behind
Your all-consuming, heart-pursuing, grace-extending, never-ending love
Your love

And there's never been a moment, no

There's never been a moment
I was not held inside Your arms
And there's never been a day when
You were not who You say You are

You're forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through
'Cause no matter where I'm going
There's never been a moment
That I was not loved
Oh, no matter where I'm going
There's never been a moment
That I was not loved by You, yeah
Loved by You
Loved by you
Loved by you

I have days of anguish and of profound sadness. Have days of most every feeling imaginable. Some moments I was scared beyond words but had no choice but to plow through. But in any moment there never had been one that my Savior wasn't with me.  For those in Christ Jesus this is a truth of our lives. For those who haven't yet it's a truth you can only look at from a  distance.  You have to come to Jesus for salvation to know the truth because He is the truth you seek. 

I really do not like my current circumstances because there's great discomfort in them. That is to say that I don't really care for it much. Yet I know that regardless of how it may feel, He is still with me.  I admit that on more than one occasion I told Jesus that I felt like I was really alone and was asking Him where He was!  Truth was He was holding me. 

You may think or have thought about these things or maybe not. I have a lot of time to think and what can be considered worse is I multi-task in my thinking. I often think of many things at once. 

I never want anyone to say they didn't know about Jesus and the salvation gift that He is offering for a limited time. 

Those in Hell will never know salvation in Christ Jesus.

Those in Heaven will never know the wrath of God associated with sin.

The only chance to know the type of never those in Heaven experience is to receive the free gift of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.  Soon that offer will be somewhat revoked.  Once the Rapture of the Church happens, finding that salvation will be much harder.  Those who come to Christ after the Rapture will find Hell on Earth a reality of life. Those who come to Christ will experience global persecution. 

You, my Dear Reader, if you aren't saved can be today.  It's a free gift.  Life with Christ is far more than your mind can wrap itself around the Bible tells the world that those aren't saved cannot grasp the things of God because they are foreign to them.

To know and understand means taking that leap of faith that is available to you now.  Everyone is born with the opportunity.  It's up to you to choose.