Becoming

I just got back from a Men's retreat with my fellow campus crusaders. There were many topics discussed at the weekend. One idea that stuck out to me was during the 'becoming a Godly husband' topic. All the guys have heard this talk many times, do this and don't do this, 'Love your wife as Christ loved the church' (Eph 5:25), etc. This talk, however, was different. First off, the speaker was very direct and blunt. He didn't weed around the bush.

One of his most convicting and overarching statements (being that it applies to all parts of life) was the following quote: "you will never be what you are not becoming." The meaning behind this quote is that someone doesn't just become what they want to be. The main example being, you don't just become a good husband or wife when you get married.

Everyone has their idea of what their ideal marriage will look like. What kind of person their spouse will be and what kind of person they will be. But we don't just magically become this person when we get married/enter a relationship. There isn't some beam of light and we become all knowledgeable. The temptation and sin that has plagued our life doesn't just disappear. This is one reason why I think many modern marriages end in divorce, that the act of getting married all the problems are suddenly solved.

Back to the quote, its implication is that whatever future spouse you desire to be, you should be working towards that right now. If you aren't becoming a loving person now, you will not just become a loving person later. If you are not becoming a respectful leader now, you will not just become a respectful leader later. You can fill in the blank with whatever qualities you want to be evident in your future life.

This relates nicely to a very unfortunate situation I often hear. The, "I'm going to live my life now (partying or self-centered life) and then when I'm older I'll settle down and become spiritual." The quote applies.

Most of you would say that you want to be loving in your relationship with your future spouse. That starts now, with your dating relationships, with you friendships. If we want to live the life we desire, we must be working towards it now. If you want to love, start loving. If you want to lead, start leading. If you want to respect, start respecting. Your future starts now.

Also, you can only become the best you can be through the power of Christ. Whatever quality you desire in your life is good, but is made perfect in Christ. He is the only way to overcome those temptations and sin that have plagued your life. Through Him is the only way to view your husband/wife as he/she truly is, a child of God.

Live for Him,

Travis

Eternal Life

I've recently been thinking about eternal life. I've been thinking about my preconceptions, public perceptions and biblical explanations.

First off, I'll go over my preconceptions about eternal life. To be honest, I never really put much thought into it. Heaven was just some place good Christians go when they die. A few months ago I came to realize that there was so much more. I've always accepted the idea of a hell, but I never really gave much consideration to it. A little while ago I was really slapped in the face when I heard a speaker talk about heaven and hell. He went on to say that people, given our sinful nature, all deserve hell. That we don't deserve to experience God's presence in hell, but though the sacrifice of our savior Jesus Christ we can be be saved. I had to overcome a huge hurdle and admit to myself that, 'I deserve hell and only through Christ can I experience the eternal love of God.'

Now, what about the public idea of eternal life? I've heard a lot of different ideas of what heaven and hell is and how/why people get where they do. Some of the most common ideas I'll lay out in the next paragraph. One idea I hear a lot is the 'I'm a good person, so I deserve heaven.' By extension all the 'bad people' go to hell. Another thought I've heard is, 'I went to church/said a prayer/am religious etc. so I deserve/earned heaven.' I've heard people looking forward to seeing loved ones when they get to heaven, a parent, sibling, child, even some animals. I've heard people look forward to a world without sin or crime, even looking forward to golden streets and pearl gates.

I'm sure you have all heard many other beliefs about heaven, but what does the bible say? First off, who goes to heaven? The good? The reightous? Here is where the famous John 3:16 is often sited, "For God so loved the world that who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." One thing that I'd like to point out is that of belief. This passage isn't talking about some half-hearted belief, such as reciting some prayer from church or singing a worship song. This belief is a fully enveloped, all consuming belief.

Anyway, what does the bible say about eternal life? Are there streets of gold or gates of pearls, maybe they are alluded to in the bible. Are our dead relatives going to be there? maybe. But the bible clearly states in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Meeting disciples or family in heaven would be nice, but you get to meet God. What are you priorities? Moreover, nowhere in this definition is there a necessity to die from our earthly bodies. If eternal life is knowing God, that starts here and know. He doesn't say, when you die you then you will know God or when you're older you will know God or when you're less sinful you will know God. It reminds me of City on our knees by Toby Mac, "If you gotta start somewhere why not here? If you gotta start sometime why not now?"

So here's the point. Eternal life starts now. It is about us knowing God though Jesus Christ. Plain and simple. It isn't about our dreams, wants or desires, it is all about God. So what role is God playing in your eternity?

Live for Him,

Travis Ray