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Question?
By Sharon Hopper
What have you done with your time here on earth? And
What do you expect your reward to be?
These were the questions that were brought to our small elderly
congregation this past week. My first thought was why is he (the
pastor) asking such a group these questions at this time in our lives?
Isn’t the age of accomplishment over at this point and is it not too
late to go back and have a do over? Then I started reflecting on so
many things from my past and I really had to ask myself if I had done
my best. And the answer was probably not. I don’t think any of us who
have lived in this world for the better part of a century can honestly
say we did everything proper, always putting others first without
regard to our reward or satisfaction. And most of us have indulged at
some time in behavior that we would rather hide from the world and
others rather than admit to the truth that we really enjoyed our
moments of self- indulgence. I guess the real word for indulgence is
sin. But I have done some good things too. The list could be made long
but in the effort to keep this short I will just say that over the
years I have given many people a gift that made them happier,
healthier, and given many a degree of self- confidence. But even that
was tied to self- indulgence because my real motive was to gain a
reward in the form of money. It was called a job. Then I realized a
fact. Yes I used my talent for financial gain, but I also gave away
many many hours of music praising the Lord, and helping others do the
same because of what I taught them. I know of several who today are
playing for their church, entertaining others in senior care
facilities, and even teaching others the joy of music from the learning
they received from me. I was not given a gift big enough to become
famous, rich, or immortal, but I was given a gift to share with so many
others that brought some form of happiness into their lives, if only
for a short time.
Then I decided that a good part of my time here on this earth has
been leaning on Jesus as my friend and comforter. Through good times
and bad, through sickness and illness. Sounds like a marriage vow and
in perspective maybe that is exactly what it has been. Because even
when I was indulging in my own agenda, things were happening in my life
that were tied to my complete trust in Jesus as my savior. And when I
felt most alone and rejected by others, I always had my friend there to
keep me in focus with the life I really wanted. And believe me when I
say that I needed mercy and forgiveness far more than I would like to
admit. I always thought I would go to be with the LORD when I passed
from this life but I do not think that I considered it the most
precious part of living until recently. You see I now know that death
is inevitable, and forever is a very long time and I relish in the
knowledge that I will dwell in the house of the Lord for eternity.I
believe that I will be joined in some way with those whom I have loved
and who loved me in this land of eternity. That will be my reward and I
am not afraid of meeting that final place, but I have to admit I still
feel that I have more to do right here. I only hope that I can complete
my assigned purpose to the Glory of God and in the name of Jesus.
Sharon Hopper
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