I've been doing a lot of heavy-duty thinking the past day or so just about how careful we really need to be as Christians. How important it is for the cause of God that we really live what we talk, and not to give God a bad name; how much effort we must put forth to become like Him, which we can do through Him if we really have a connection.
Bible study last night was excellent and really went hand-in-hand with the chapter in "The Great Controversy" that I just finished (Facing Life's Record). It is a very sobering thing to meditate on the fact that right now judgements are being made and we don't know when our names will come up. We don't know when our last chance will be, either because something takes our lives or because probation will close and Jesus return. I should think that would be a great motivator to a lot of Christians if they would just spend some time thinking about it. It has really caused me to re-evaluate a lot and recognise some flaws in my character that need working on desperately.
The beautiful thing is, though, amid the solemnity, that Christ loves us. His perfection covers our imperfection when we come to Him and confess and forsake our sins. He does not leave us to meet this battle all on our own, because He has fought it Himself and wants us to be victorious as He was, and we can because He did it.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking about the future - because the heat is going to get so intense and I don't want to cave in. There is nothing I long for more than the peace and security of being part of God's eternal kingdom. And I know I'm not going to get there just by idly sitting by and hoping I make it, not putting out effort to learn more how to be like Jesus through His Word and understanding what His Word actually says. I have to be active in the struggle and it is one nobody else can fight for me, only myself in conjunction with Jesus.
So this morning my prayer is for all Christians, that we don't give up no matter how difficult life is or becomes. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8.18
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
