I'm Not Ready!

I’ve been intending to sit down and collect my thoughts about my oldest daughter’s high school graduation. It’s been a bit busier than usual because of all the preparations being made for the event. Translation: my wife has been busy and I have been sitting around complaining about everything. But as with all things in life, “the time has come.”

The funny thing to me is that with all the family that came in, someone would have thought a wedding was about to happen! Thankfully, not yet … although that is another milestone in life that everyone but me will thrill over.

I’m more sentimental than I want to admit. Deep within me I am not accepting the changes well — and it’s probably not all that deep within (I’m actually more or less the kind of person who wears his heart on his sleeve).

The thing is: I’m having a tough time accepting the inevitabilities of life. I do remember when I was graduating high school and how desperate I felt to get out and do my own thing. I’m not sure how my parents felt, but I’m sure it’s a lot like how I’m feeling now.

The bottom line? I am not prepared!

The Great Equalizer

… We will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

—[ Romans 14:10-12 ]—

Life presents everyone with the same end: all who are born will die. And the Scriptures teach that we all have only one life to live and then comes the judgment of our souls (Hebrews 9:27-28).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:25-29).

Recently while in traffic, I was considering how it is that between lights there are all sorts of different drivers: there are those who drive as if they’re racing everyone else; there are those who are taking their time; and there are those who are stuck between those two types of drivers simply trying to survive the mayhem. The thing is, those drivers who act as if Pines Boulevard is a NASCAR straightaway and those who are simply going along all meet up at the next light! The traffic lights serve as equalizers.

Death is an equalizer. As Solomon observed: “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie” (Ecclesiastes 11:3). It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor (or middle class), smart or dumb—all die, and all will meet the Lord in judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

“… We make it our aim to please [God]. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. …” (2 Corinthians 5:9-11).

“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:9-12).

As followers we know God’s word. We know the truth, and therefore, we should live it and share it, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This means we say what needs to be said for the moment (Colossians 4:5-6). As to this passage—Colossians 4:5-6—Albert Barnes stated it quite eloquently: “Be imbued with the spirit of piety, that you may not utter any thing that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that will tend to edification.”

Again, death is an equalizer; but simultaneously, it will serve as a point of distinction between the good and the evil—not as men judge, but as God judges (Matthew 25:31-33; Hebrews 10:31; 12:28-29). And God’s judgment is fair, just, and true (John 8:16; Romans 11:22).

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).

Death equalizes; judgment is for eternity …

Written For Our Instruction

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

There is so much comfort and power in God’s word, that we do ourselves an extreme disservice by not making the time and effort to read and study it (2 Timothy 2:15). “The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalms 119:160). As Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

THROUGH ENDURANCE

The word “endurance” used here in the ESV is from the Greek word hupomonē which is also translated patience, perseverance, or steadfastness. I believe the statement here is about our own endurance: in other words, that we are to be steadfast. 

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven …” (Col. 1:21-23).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Satan wants us to give up. Whether he tempts us to quit from difficulties in life outside the fellowship of our brethren, or from our brethren, Satan doesn’t care: he simply wants us to fail. But our failure will mean our eternal and deserved damnation (Rom. 6:23).

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. “And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

“Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8).

THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES

God—by means of His word provided to mankind by means of the Holy Spirit moving men (2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:9-16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)—speaks to us now. “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11).

When Jesus was being tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) He defended Himself by quoting the word of God! We need to do this ourselves, but we can’t do so successfully if we choose not to read it at all. “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4; see 2:12-14). We must read to know, and know to do. We do not accidentally serve the Lord; it is deliberate action He seeks from us (Heb. 11:1, 6; Eph. 5:7-11).