Prepare for HOME

Saturday, August 19th, 2011

Today's Passage: Colossians chapter 3
Memory Verse: Col. 3: 2

Ten years ago, certain words were only heard on Rated "R" movies. It was unheard of to turn on a talk show and be bombarded with so much foul language as we see being used today. Now, even Prime Time channels that used to be watched by the whole family have to be blocked off so that those who really care what their children are being exposed to don't have to worry about them hearing the vulgar words. But herein lies the issue. Even those of us, who SHOULD be watching over the fragile spirits of ourselves and our children, are becoming desensitized to the filth coming from the television screen nowadays.

In the face of eternity, knowing that Christ is soon to come, we've been discussing the importance of setting our gaze on home. So how do we actually do that? Today's passage suggests that, unlike some who think we should be collecting ammunition in order to fight against the government or something to that effect, we should be looking WITHIN and not WITHOUT. We shouldn't fail to pray for God to draw others to the cross, of course, or assemble ourselves as we see the day approaching. But more importantly than all of that, we must condition and prepare our hearts to make the transition to heaven.

Paul begins by reminding us that we must render inactive the fleshly passions that control those in the world. Remember my reference to television programs? We can see that foul language and sexual innuendos have flowed over into even the parts of society that we used to refer to as "respectable": the church-going segment of our culture that used to be uncomfortable with vulgarity in ANY form. Now, all the lines have been made blurry, and the one religion that's being preached is the religion of self: whatever you want to do or believe in, you should have the freedom to do and believe in without anyone trying to persuade you otherwise.

But then Paul goes deeper than the things we see on television to the real issues of the heart -- things only God can see. We must begin to tear our hearts and not just our outer garments. We need to spend time praying and fasting to see a move of God like never before, a move in which He comes and delivers us from the anger, secret lusts, lies, and unforgiveness that threaten to pull us from the close relationship God wants to maintain with us. In place of those things, we must begin to practice compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, peace, forgiveness, and most of all, love. After all, are these not the things that will rule our hearts when we get to heaven? No wonder God is so adamant about us walking in them down here -- before the trumpet sounds. No matter what the condition of your heart right now, I encourage you to draw closer to the Lord and keep asking Him to change you until your walk brings glory to His Name and prepares you as well as others for the coming of the Lord. In short, live every day as if it were your last on this earth.

Prayer: Father, You have done everything You needed to do to prepare us for eternity. There have been times when our focus has not been on You and the sacrifice Jesus made for us. But we turn our hearts now towards Your face and Your plans for us. Refiner's fire, refine us and purify us until we reflect Your awesome glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.