Making Things Right – Part 1

Colossians 3:12-15 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” 

This last Sunday, Pastor Obie continued in our sermon series based upon the book of Genesis. He asked, ‘What would you do if you woke up one day and found that the newspapers, social media and your emails were mistakenly reporting your death? What would your obituary say and what would you see people writing about you and your life? You would surely be able to get a glimpse of the end of your life and what people who knew you thought and remembered you for. What would you learn from it and what would you change in your life for people to remember?

Pastor Obie highlighted us two thoughts that come to everybody on their deathbed. (1) You will think about God. Atheists, Agnostics and people of faith will prepare to make their Maker. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts.” Remember your intimate relationship with your Creator through the spiritual markers left by God along your life-journey’s path. Recall memories of His love and care in your life and memories of God’s plans, purposes and promises for you. Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.” God wants to show you and I that He is real and for us to experience His sovereign power. Know who you are and know whose you are. Like a fish out of water, when we are living outside of what God designed for us, we delay or miss blessings.

Exodus 9:16 “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

(2) You will think about relationships. In the last moments of our life, we will not be remembering our bank accounts, our degrees and resume, or our trophies and honors. We are social and relational beings, designed by God for relationships. The human heart is like an ocean, in that there is a beautiful unseen world beneath its surface. The ongoing Harvard study on relationships has found that “good” relationships keep us healthier and happier. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” We are hardwired by God to desire fruit of the Spirit in our life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - Galatians 5:22-23. Grow your relationships.

Let’s continue Pastor Obie’s message on making things right in our lives in the next post.

In Christ, Brian