The Privilege of Knowing Jesus
We’ve all seen or been involved in relationships where someone has been taken for granted, whether it was us or someone else. It’s a sad thing, but it seems to be a human epidemic. We may have spent less time with our grandparents than we’ve wished we would have after they’ve passed. We may have valued our parents and all they did for us as children a bit less than we should have when we were living under their roof. Whether in a marriage, in a friendship, or in another kind of relationship, we all know what this looks like. You’ve heard the saying, “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”
James 4:14 tells us a very important truth, “…you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” We have very little time on this earth in the grand scheme of eternity. If you’re a parent you know all too well how quickly the years fly by. It seems at times like a blink of an eye between changing diapers and teaching to drive. This is the picture of a vapor. Here one day, gone tomorrow. Because of this, we should want to make sure that we make the best of this life while we’re here.
Look at Philippians 3:8 in the Amplified Bible, “Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One).” The Apostle Paul had the revelation that he shouldn’t take Jesus for granted. He says here that everything else in comparison to Jesus is rubbish, refuse, and can’t even compare.
Even with modern medical science we still have less than 100 years on this earth, which compared to eternity is the equivalent of a week’s vacation, maybe less. Consider when you’re on vacation in a place you know you’re not likely to return to. What do you try to do? If you’re like me, you try to make sure you do and see everything that’s available in the short time you’re there. You don’t want to miss out on anything. Well, we’re not here on earth on vacation, but it’s such a short time. We don’t want to miss a thing.
Jeremiah 29:11 lets us know that God has a specific plan for each and every one of us and it’s a plan of hope and peace. God has given us the full ability and all the resources we need to accomplish that plan, in order not to miss out on a thing during our short time on this earth. It starts first with recognizing where our peace, where our joy, and where our hope begins. You don’t have to guess, it begins with Jesus! Let’s not take Him for granted.
Hebrews 12:1-2, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Lets put aside the things in life that try to distract us away from giving Jesus our all. Let’s have no regrets when our earthly lives are over, knowing that through Jesus, we didn’t miss a thing.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
