Tag Archives: legacy

The past, the future, and today

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Much of God’s Word talks about learning from the past, living intentionally today, and preparing for the future. Learning from the past involves paying attention to ‘lessons learned’ and changing our behavior to better impact today. Living intentionally today means paying attention to where we are right now, to those around us, and to what God is now doing. Planning for the future leads us to consider our mortal lives and prepare for what awaits us for all eternity.

 

How does this relate to our everyday life?

 

“Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) We can and should let the bible’s lessons guide us in the decisions we make today. Worldly gain is actually loss if it compromises God’s Word. The “Flying Scot” Eric Liddell who refused to run on Sunday demonstrated this discipline. Even Robert Fulghum understood the value of early lessons when he wrote “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” When making decisions today, listen closely to your God-given conscience to make wise decisions. What is true is ALWAYS true, no matter what circumstance prevails, no matter how we feel about it.

 

The past is gone and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Today is the only time you have. Tolkien wrote, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Time is the one resource that cannot be replenished. You can spend it on trivia or invest it wisely but you can never ever get it back. So how should we use our time? It is always the right time to do the right thing. Help someone in need, encourage a friend – or a stranger. Speak words that build up, not tear down. Discipline yourself to do nothing but sit in quiet reflection for a while. Give anonymously when you have no chance of being ‘paid back’. Pray; the prayers of a godly person are powerful. Can you wisely live a day without investing in these?

 

What does it mean to prepare for the future? We are warned against worrying about the future because most of the things we worry about never manifest themselves. Most of those that do are beyond our control to change. Worry is a great waste of time and energy that easily leads us to the sin of not trusting God. But the wise person does make preparations for the future; first for their eternal future and also for the near future. The degree to which you exercise your faith today will determine your ability to call on it in times of trouble. The moral decisions you make today have real impact not only on your life but on others. May those who come behind us find us faithful!

 

How do you walk the tightrope of learning from the past, living intentionally today and still preparing for the future? The bible tells us to make wise ‘investments’. How much of our passions for hobbies are really a tragic waste of time? Isn’t the most valuable legacy the one which will live on . . . forever? Don’t waste your life. Learn from the past, plan for the future, but live today fully.

 

‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.’ – Bill Keane

 

 

“I Still Do!”

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Valentine’s Day 2015

Forty two years, seven months, and 21 days ago, I spoke two words to a beautiful woman. Thankfully, she repeated them back to me. Though not an eloquent speech, these two simple words would shape the rest of our life together:

 

“I do.”

 

It was a great day. We both remember our faces hurting later from smiling so much. Within hours we were whisked away to a paradise flight that started our journey together. We had no idea where such journeys would take us through life: magnificent islands, stunning fjords, majestic mountains, amazing beaches, the rugged outback, active volcanoes, countless forests and meadows, and also the poorest of neighborhoods in devastated cities.

 

When we said “I do” to each other, we were also pronouncing these words to our future children and grandchildren. It remains a promise that love and faithfulness are for real. While we’ve desired to give ‘more’ to our children, the promise of “I do” was the gift that mom and dad were committed to each other and to them, always.

 

“I do” is as much a promise of commitment as it is a profession of love. The harsh reality is that we don’t always feel like loving and we aren’t always so lovable. Feelings wax and wane more than the moon. “I do” is not lived out perfectly in our marriage, our friendships, or our relationship with God. But faithfulness perseveres. In good times and troubled ones, faithfulness consistently speaks three words:

 

“I still do!”

 

“I do” signs the mortgage. “I still do” writes the checks.

“I still do” gets up when “I do” falls down.

“I do” gets tired. “I still do” presses on.

“I still do” speaks determination when “I do” doubts.

“I do” looks for good. “I still do” seeks the best.

“I still do” is a legacy commitment that looks beyond today.

“I still do” lights a candle wherever darkness falls.

 

“I still do” is the bedrock of God’s design for marriage. It brings us through the terrible twos and the troubled teens. It conquers where cancer corrupts. “I still do” fulfills when “I do falters.” God’s story consistently speaks, “I still do” to His people even when they are unfaithful. He’s saying it to you and me right now. He presents Jesus as our bridegroom and the church of true believers as the bride. When we say, “I believe” to God, we are really saying, “I will keep on believing” – “I still do”.

 

“I still do” is the daily payment on the promise note of “I do.” It is the test of truthfulness of the heart. “I still do” takes us from fairy tales to ‘for real’ ones. When “I do” fails, “I still do” becomes the promise of repentance, renewal, and restoration.

 

On this Valentine’s Day and always I’m saying, “I still do” to my bride. Let’s each of us as the bride of Christ say the same: “I still do.”

And then watch the love grow!