Monday, September 21, 2020

Pastor's Pondering, September 21, 2020

What Would You Do In Your Final Days?

 

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her last days doing what she wanted to do. According to an article by Jessica Gresko in the Huffington Post, September 20, 2020, “She was seeing family. She was exercising. She was listening to opera. She was doing the work of the court. She even officiated at a wedding.”  Further, “she seemed to be coping with treatment for cancer and also making plans for events months away.”  She seemed to be at peace with what she was accomplishing in her life.

 

The Bible tells of a great man of God who also seemed to be a peace with what he was accomplishing and had accomplished in his life.  Paul wrote most of the books in the New Testament but had suffered greatly in his life after he decided to follow Christ (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). Nevertheless, Paul wrote to Timothy tell him that he had fought all of his battles, he did not lose faith in God, and he was confident that after death he would get a reward from God  (2 Timothy 4:6-8).  He had been willing and obedient to God and he knew he would get the blessings that he had been promised.  

 

He kept his focus on things that were eternal and unchanging (2 Corinthians 4:18) and not on circumstances that were constantly changing.  Just like Paul, we must make the decision that when we evaluate our life and our current actions, things we have done, and things that we will continue to do, I hope we can all say that we are obeying God’s word and pleasing him in every way.  In the final days of our lives, let us live our lives in a way that honors our relationship with him and the gift of salvation and eternal life.

 

2 Corinthians 11:24-27

New International Version

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8

New International Version

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 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.

 

2 Corinthians 4:18

New International Version

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


 

 

 

 

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