Monday, August 26, 2019

Pastor's Ponderings, August 26, 2019

Living Our Best Life

A CW network program, “My Last Days” showcased brave participants living their final days as best as they could.  One of these awesome individuals, Claire Lucia Wineland, said, "Death is inevitable, but living a life that we are proud of, that is something we can control." Although she passed a week after a double lung transplant on August 26, 2018, her humor, her strong resolve, and her calmness in the face of possible death lives on.  

In the Bible, Paul shared a great perspective on his last days.  He said that he was torn between wanting to go with God and also wanting to stay to labor with those who love the Lord on this Earth (Philippians 1:22-24).  He was appreciating his current life with Christ, but knowing that he had something great waiting for him in heaven (Philippians 1:21). But in the end, he said that he had kept his faith, had finished his course and now was looking forward to receiving his reward (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  

In the Bible, Peter said it a little differently. He said he wanted only to fulfill the will of God in spite of life’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:1-2).  Like Peter, Martin Luther King said, “I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land...”  

Whatever we do, let us live our lives so that God will be well pleased. This is our duty; obeying His will and pleasing God in everything we do.

Philippians 1:22-24
New International Version (NIV)
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Philippians 1:21
New International Version (NIV)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

2 Timothy 4:7-8
New International Version (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

1 Peter 4:1-2
New International Version (NIV)
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.



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