Time for a Self-Check

I’m not a worrier…about myself, my family or my friends.  I just trust in the sovereignty of God.  That’s not virtue signaling or Jesus-juking…I just know that the one who formed me in my mother’s womb has not only counted the hairs on my head but He’s already numbered my days…and that of those around me. I’m not reckless. I do what I can to stay healthy and active. In recent years, I’ve taken great pains to bring the idol of food into subjection, taking better care of God’s temple.  But I don’t really worry or stress about the number of days that I or my loved ones have left. If anything, in our current culture I’m probably a little more conscious than my conscience would like, but I’m sure others would disagree.  That’s held pretty true through all of the unrest of the past several months in our country.  I’ve really not changed my opinions, convictions or values through this whole fiasco.  I am unpersuaded.

However, the rhetoric, worry, panic and opinions of others in these times HAS subtly altered my activity, out of respect and compassion for (and sometimes frustration with) others that don’t agree with me or share my values.  Cultural rhetoric has hijacked my mental and emotional focus and my conversation.   I have failed to keep the main thing the main thing and I’ve failed to live out my purpose to its fullest…I believe I’ve committed a sin against my Creator and His design for me.

I’m repenting of the sin of distraction that I’ve allowed to creep into and be thrust into my life (see verse 17 below).  My mission, my gifting, and my calling have been hijacked by the smoke and mirrors of the enemy. We’re trying to protect a gift of the future that hasn’t even been given to us.

I just want to be found faithful…not fearful. I want to be found working…not wasting or waiting.

My missional, God-glorifying activity as a follower of Jesus will not be hampered, held back or hijacked by a pandemic or public panic over social injustices.

My purposeful, God-glorifying conversation as a follower of Jesus will not be hampered, held back or hijacked by a pandemic or public panic over social injustices.

There is NO PROMISE of tomorrow to fulfill your mission for today.   If today was the last day of your life, how would you use it to fulfill the mission imprinted on you as the redeemed and restored Image Bearer of God?

There is NO PROMISE of tomorrow to fulfill your mission for today.

Tweet

James 4:13-17 ESV
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— [14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [15] Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. [17] So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.