Counting & The Cost

Every once in a while, I find myself reflecting on how life would be different, in the face of certain tragedy. Any prolonged thought of one's own mortality and you can't help but be humbled and consider yourself blessed... to have life, to have family, to have friends. Indeed, life is a gift.

If life on earth is a gift, then how much greater a gift, is eternal life through Jesus Christ? What adjective could possibly describe.

English novelist and playwright, Graham Greene sums it up this way...

"You can’t conceive, my child, nor can I or anyone the … appalling … strangeness of the mercy of God."

We all encounter our own difficulties and tragedies. One can't fathom theirs from another should our lots in life ever be switched... that you would live my story and I would live yours.

Yet, in the sovereignty of God, each gift of blessing, each loss of the same, is an opportunity to trust God and draw closer to Him.

As I reflected on on Spaffords' story yesterday, this succinct question came to mind.

We will one day, all stand before God. And after the one question, regarding our relationship with Christ, there will be a follow-up question; with two points of clarity.

What happened?

The two points of clarity...

...for the unbeliever: I gave you every opportunity to come to Christ, yet you did not.
...for the believer: I gave you every opportunity to bring someone to Christ; yet you did not.

Challenging questions, that are rendering me nearly speechless.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for the church body as a whole, as well as pastors and church leaders, that each of us would remain focused; that life is a gift and that God is sovereign. May there be an awareness about our lives to seize the opportunities to glorify God and to point others to Christ, that they may come into right relationship with God. God forgive us, for the opportunities we have missed. Help us, not to let more slip through our lives.

Life is precious.
Life is short.
Eternity awaits
With one simple response to God.

- PNC