We’ve put away the Christmas decorations and settled in for the long winter. Now that we’ve become absorbed with the daily duties of life, Christmas can fade to a distant memory.
How do we keep what the Lord has done, His incarnation and entrance into this fallen world, before us? How do we live in the here and now and still maintain the long view, the view of a new Heaven and new Earth where God sets all things right and makes all things new?
It takes a fair amount of purposefulness to stay aware of God’s movement in the here and now, but we can see His work in the changed lives of women who grasp the Gospel and gain a restored relationship with Him. We can also notice newness in our own lives, newness that we now experience in part but will experience fully when we see Jesus face to face.
I grew up hearing the saying, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.” I assumed this meant that if people did nothing but talk about Jesus, they wouldn’t help others; they’d miss the needs right in front of them. I surely didn’t want that to be my lot, not living in the present reality of life.
As with most things, our perspective is like a road with a ditch on either side. If we fall to one side, we talk and talk about eternal things and don’t listen to the Lord or to others. If we fall to the other side, we get consumed with doing good deeds; after all we just want to help.
What’s the solution for walking this road? Stay connected to the source: Jesus!
We get lost when we strive to make something happen either in words or deeds. Only when we remain aware of God’s kingdom, and draw strength from a daily relationship with Jesus, can we live in the here and now and keep the long view in mind. This calls for willingness to stop in our tracks and speak a word of encouragement, or to make a call as God prompts us. It’s simpler than we imagine, yet hard to live daily.
Let’s agree that in this new year we will move toward a deeper, more connected relationship by spending time with our Creator. And let’s look for more ways to share the hope of Heaven with women in the here and now.
Blessings,
Tami