Return to 3rd Quarter 2020 articles.

PRIORITIES

When we face our mortality, it gives us a perspective of what is most important in this life. If we knew we only had six months to live, what would we do? Who would we spend our time with? I think for many of us seniors who have been sheltered at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, we have had to think about these things.

God tells us to be ready to die and face Judgement (2 Peter 3:11-14). We do not know if we will see tomorrow. God says it is arrogant to say that we will (James 4:13-16). God also never promises to protect us from the consequences of living in this fallen, sinful world. The world is full of evil and violence, illness, disease, and decay — all things will die. God does NOT protect us from these things. In fact, he promises us trials and troubles in this life (John 16:33). But, if we are in Christ, and have his Spirit living in us (Romans 6), he promises to be with us always to help, comfort, talk to us, teach, guide, and give us spiritual strength to deal with whatever earthly trials we face (2 Peter 1:3, 4). He promises us “a way out” so we will never have more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). God gives us his love, peace, and joy no matter what we face (James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:6-9).

He also gives us people to love and to love us. We call the people we love most and who love us our family. Family is not limited to blood or adoption. Family can also be those we love because of shared values and priorities and like-mindedness. We enjoy being together and have many deep bonds. God calls us to love our church family. He tells us to love, serve, pray for one another, bear each other's burdens, and spend time together because of our shared love of God, Jesus, and his Word (Acts 2:42-47).

Most of all, our faith in God gives us hope (assurance, NOT wishful thinking! Hebrews 11:1) of an eternal life with God and Jesus when this earthly life ends (1 Peter 1:3, 4). God says to seek and find him (Jeremiah 29:11-13), to know him and follow him while we live a very short time on Earth so that our eternal soul can live with him forever. That is our purpose and reason for living. God loves us and has provided a way we can be reconciled to him through his Son, Jesus. We can have a relationship with him now and eternally.

— Cynthia Clayton

Picture credit:
© Julie Marcussen

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.