Only what you do for Christ will last. A former church member posted this on my Facebook wall after telling me that I turned out alright! I appreciated the complement, but inside there was a longing to do better. A longing to encourage others that we could all do better. And in its purist form I was reminded that that was what being a Christian was all about. Showing the love of Christ transcends any labels people can put on us, and runs deeper than exposing one anothers faults.
Before I got into this online ministry, I used to wonder how I could help in this Christian race. How could I get people to see that the span of mans’ 100 years is nothing compared to eternity. How could I minister if I wasn’t a teacher, pastor, publisher or hold a high position in the church? Then I read a book by Dr. Miles Monroe titled “Rediscovering the Kingdom,” and it gave biblical perspective on the dominion each of us hold over the places where we live, visit, and work. The love of Christ can be shown, and your friends will begin coming to you for prayer whether their believers are not. Just let somebody get sick. I’ve seen them call on every God known to man. But there’s only one living God. Without a grave who died and rose for our sins, so we may have eternal life.
In life I’ve found that even your best friends will often look to discredit you to justify their own decisions and habits. They will harmlessly bring up your past and act is if the good old days were the best days. No doubt some of those days were precious memories, but for a friend seeking to discredit you they aren’t purely reminiscing. They’re searching for meaning, and often they’re looking to you as a Christian to show Godly principles and provide biblical perspectives. I would often fail this test. Not realizing that my friends were trying to get me to gloat in the days when we could wallow in sin without a care in the world. Now as they bring up the same old stories, I use it as a opportunity to minister about where I came from.
The past won’t last whether good or bad, but only what you do for Christ will last at the time of judgement. The Bible illustrates:
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. -1 Corinthians 9:25-27
I refuse to walk this earth not preparing for a satisfactory progress report. When that day does come I want to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:21) come from the mouth of Jesus and God the Father.
The trick of the enemy is to get us focused on today while regretting yesterday. Today’s problems and today’s successes. Yesterdays hurt and yesterdays stumbles. When the ultimate goal is to win souls for Christ and be welcomed into the Kingdom. To do that we must keep looking forward. To look forward is to have faith. Success and peace alike comes when we exhibit that faith.
As you go through your day, month and years write somewhere in your house where you can see it “ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.” It will be the motivation behind staying on God’s PATH for your life. As you stay in the spirit you will be able to discern whether an old friend is reminiscing, or crying out for help. It will give you perspective on what’s really important as your soul prospers.
Staying on the PATH is finding your purpose, and in that purpose God will send people to you with plenty of opportunity to witness about Jesus. Show the Love of Christ, even when they treat the name of Jesus like a curse word. You plant the seed, and let God make it grow. That’s how we give back. That’s how we hear job well done. It’s true that staying on the Path may keep success as a close cousin, but sometimes sacrifice can mean less wealth on earth with tangible riches stored up in heaven for all eternity.
Ask yourself what’s really important. Am I maximizing my opportunities to help others? Am I working on myself so that I can help others? How can I improve myself so that I can stay on the righteous path God so desires for each of us. For balancing success and peace comes when you’re in his will. Stay on the PATH everyone!
God Bless,
Kris Patrick
Publisher
