I'm the mom with the speakers booming. It's true, I've never outgrown jammin' out! Music moves me. Sometimes, I have to tone it down a bit (ya know, since I'm not a teenager & all). I love singing my head off, no matter the genre. I dig awesome songs & my kids do too.
Apple? Tree? Falls close, right?
I heard a sermon this SPRING FORWARD weekend that reminded me of a day driving home from elementary school pick-up line. As was normal, KLove was blaring through the Suburban speakers and all occupants were singing right along (my little apples & me) with Phillips, Craig & Dean. For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live at the top of our lungs when my Sweetboy reached over and turned it down. "Mama, what does it mean that I am crucified with Christ and yet I live?" I could see the wheels turning. So, I tried to give him my best explanation of Paul's meaning behind those words.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" Phil. 1:21
It's moments like these that send a mama heart spinning. Not that I didn't have an answer but because I did and he was looking to me for understanding. A real God moment that could either satisfy my boy or leave him looking for more. I told him that living our lives is important but living them for Christ even more important.
In my best elementary aged teaching… I went on.
Paul understood how special it was to live in a way that brought honor to God. He had been horrible to Christians. He realized his foolish ways and turned to God…leaving behind his mocking & murdering of those who loved the Lord. Paul loved God so much that he was willing to do anything to show it to others. He was put in prison, ran out of town, suffered abuse, nearly killed repeatedly & still he kept on preaching the gospel. While he was in chains, literally locked up for preaching…he openly rejoiced at his opportunities to share Christ. He spoke of whether he was dead or alive his ultimate goal was to exalt God. Paul knew if he remained on earth he was to speak God's truth and teach others to love God too. If he died, that was the ultimate reward because he was going to spend eternity with GOD. And there's no greater reward than that. Paul anticipated heaven!
With his bushy boy eyebrows scrunched up in thinking position, he looked at me and said, "I want to be like that too!". I smiled back at him and agreed, "So do I, son!".
I've never forgotten that teaching moment. Oh, there have been others. But that one still remains pretty special to me. I realized then that if my 4th grade boy could see how important it was to live for Christ and to long for heaven….then what was holding me back? Nothing makes you want to kick up your faithwalk more than catching a glimpse of God revealing himself to your kid. Plus, using you to do it as a bonus.
So, let me bring this back full circle. Every single day you and I wake up facing a choice. We can live boldly for Christ using every moment for His glory and kingdom or we can scrimp on by and just enjoy life for our own benefit. It's a matter of being intentional. Ask yourself, Do I really believe what the Bible says about life & death? James 4:14 says "You don't 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".
Life is short, eternity is long. Surely God meant for our time on earth to count for something significant, right? Are you living like Christ is everything to you? Do you rejoice at every chance to share God with someone in need? Is it true for you that to live is Christ and to die is gain?
Christ means everything to me in this life, and when I die I'll have even more.