To the 99

Often I hear Christians say I hope the Lord comes back soon. I have very mixed feelings about this. I would love to see my Savior as soon as possible but I am not ready for him to come for me yet. I would love to be in heaven worshipping my Maker without any distractions, have no more pain, no frustration, only peace. However, I am not ready to go yet. I want my life to mean more than just going through the motions of life only for people to grieve when I die and a few generations later barely even remember my name. I don't want a normal life. So what if I get to go to heaven, what am I going to do in the mean time?

I recently saw a picture of Jesus with the one lost sheep. (Luke 15:3-7) I think some of us forget part of this story. He left the 99 in the open to pursue the one. Do you ever feel like one of the 99 or you the one he is pursuing? I think I am one of the 99. Because he heavily scearches after the one does not mean he loves me less. He is demonstrating he great love for me by searching after that one. There is a point we all Christians must realize his ultimate love for us and his desire for us to be at peace. When we achieve this then we are truly able to rejoice with the Lord for that one. Many of us go through our Christian walk thinking it is all about us. We want to know why things have gone badly. We want Christ to come back so there will be no more evil in this world. The simple fact is that it is not about us.

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:7

I want everyone to know the unconditional love of the Lord. I do not care if there is a huge party in heaven when I get there. I believe that once you allow God's love to penetrate your heart that he slowly changes it into his own. I think mine is changing. I want only what God wants, to see that all of his sheep are found. I really understand this parable a little better now that I am a parent. God does not want to chose which child he will not spend forever with. It is like me saying, well these two are the good ones I will give up that one. How could a loving parent do that?

So if Jesus came back for his people, what about those that do not know the Lord like some Christians do? I do not want any of my loved ones (or those I do not know) to perish, but all to live in eternity with the Lover of Our Souls. Why do I want this, because God does. He sent his Son to die for you even though he knew you might not care, you would be selfish, angry, addicted, lonely, hurting. He knew that you would go your own way, do it yourself, shake your fist at him. But he knew that it was the only way for you to have life. I want to waste my life on a cause that I might never ever see won. I want to use everything to the glory of the Lord. Becasue he gave it all for me even though I have hated, been angry with him, did it my way, was greedy, selfish, prideful, judgemental, critical, defiant. He loved me anyway. There is no greater love that that of the loving Father.

So, until I reach heaven, I give my life for those that still have not found the love that your Daddy wants for you. Things will not be solved by government, laws, money, rules, it is only going to be done with the Love of the Father. Honestly, what is holding you back?