Coffee With The Lord

We consider the “last words” of a significant person of influence very important.  We listen closely and seek to remember and pay close attention to what they say.  I recall vividly the “last words” of my mother as we, her family, were gathered around her deathbed.

The last words of Jesus Christ, our Savior, have much greater impact and importance! … However, they were not dying words – they were the words of a risen Lord, about to ascend to the Heavenly Father’s right hand, and uttered with the promise of one day returning to usher in and establish the eternal “Kingdom of God!”

Here they are (and very important!). We, His followers, must hear and heed them!

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth!”  

And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said… ‘Why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven!’” (From Acts 1:8–11 ESV)

The “last words” of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior… “King of Kings and Lord of Lords!”  Oh, hear me!  I intend to do everything in my power to hear and heed them!  And, I’m excited about His promised return… It could be soon!

What is one anyway?  Here’s the dictionary definition:  “A lazy, sluggish person”

What the Bible has to say about this kind of person was a part of my Bible reading today was much more descriptive and graphic… The writer of Proverbs said, “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man!”  (Proverbs 24:30–34 ESV)

My dad was certainly NOT a sluggard – strong work ethic, industrious, faithful, godly and motivated!  I thought about him as I wrote this reflection in the margin of my Bible today – a recommendation for daily living that avoids “sluggardom”…

“Get up… Get dressed… Get your Bible and have devotions… Go to work… Get something productive done… Honor God in everything… Go home… Go to bed… Get some sleep… And repeat.”

It was my dad’s daily cycle… I’ve adopted it… especially the part about honoring God in everything!

I’ve run several marathons… each one was unique, each had it challenges, each one was LONG!  Just let me say, it really helps to have some people along the way cheering you on… especially if some of them have run long races like a marathon before!  But when you approach the finish line, with your muscles screaming and your body telling you you’re NOT going to make it, you really want to see that one special friend or spouse at the end there to meet you!

Hey, following Jesus is not a sprint… It’s a marathon!  And each one of us face unique challenges as we seek to finish “our race” (and the fact is we’re not running against each other… each of us is running his or her own race).  Sometimes we wonder if we’ll make it – the difficulties and trials just seem so great!  We’re tempted to pull over to the side, give up and just take the “sag wagon” without finishing.  But thankfully there are fellow runners that cheer us on, those who have finished their faith race successfully and have gone on before whose words of encouragement we remember (the “heavenly grandstands” are filled with those who have finished well!)… and then there is Jesus!  The One above all else we want to see at the finish line… Our Savior… The One who with His dying breath proclaimed from the cross “IT IS FINISHED!” (John 19:30)

So after the great faith chapter (Hebrews 11) – a chapter filled with the names and stories of fellow runners, who finished their “faith-race” (overcoming all kinds of challenges, accomplishing great things despite the difficulties – even giving their all to finish their race)… We find these words at the beginning of the very next chapter…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God!” (from Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV)

I’m gonna keep on running!  I really appreciate the encouragement that comes from each of you, my fellow runners!  And, oh how the lives of faithful people who have gone before encourage me to continue on! … But most of all Jesus! …Jesus encourages me!  And, oh I want to see Him at the finish line… more than anything else!!!