I've been thinking a lot about perspective. How do I view my world and my circumstances? There is a sense in which I can be so easily stuck in the moment, stuck with fears and frustrations of the present. Part of learning how to love the city of Austin and its people has been spending time with Tim Hawks, senior pastor of Hill Country Bible Church in Austin. Tim has been here for the past 19 years and knows and loves Austin like few people I know. He has been challenging us to view life in light of eternity.
Life on earth is as good as it is ever going to get if you do not know Jesus Christ as your savior. This is as close to heaven as you are ever going to get. Likewise, if you are a Christ-follower life on earth is as bad as it is ever going to get, as near to hell as you will ever experience.
So where I am at right now I am trying to live my life like that is true, pursuing an eternal perspective that takes the claims of Jesus Christ serious. He claims that there is a future judgment and juxtaposed a future of incredible joy.
Jesus promises persecution for those who follow him, he demands sacrifice on a scale that is mind-boggling, and he requires dedication that is absolute in order to follow him (If you are wondering what I am talking about look up these verses of scripture - Luke 9:23-24, Luke 9:62, Luke 14:26). However, he also promises reward that is unprecedented, reconcilliation with God and a perfect life in heaven with ever increasing joy for all eternity (a concept I can't even fully grasp).
Coming to Austin has been quite a journey, and Andrea and I have had to consistently lay down our desires in order to follow what God called us to - Jesus is worthy of us living our lives for Him!
In my journey of learning to have an eternal perspective the concept of trusting God and of faith in God's love and goodness has been a constant. I am learning to trust God more and more, and surprisingly, despite some of our circumstances, we are calm and at peace. A passage that has been occupying my mind is this:
'Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.' [Hebrews 10:35-39]
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Tonight, in preparation of one last cup of coffee with Andrea at Starbucks before she heads off to join Matthias in Austin (sniff), I read the blog so I would know the latest news before we got together tonight. I had a lot to read! I am glad to hear that there are people in Austin ready to pour out love and encouragement on all of you (Robby and Crystal as well). All four of you will be deeply missed in Lancaster. It is comforting to know that those in Austin recognize your passion and talent for teaching and worship that you use wholeheartedly for God’s glory.
For those of us “left behind” in Lancaster, I would like to encourage you (and remind myself) not to become stagnant because of sadness and uncertainty, but to keep that perspective Matthias was talking about in his blog and to press on. As much as we will miss them, Matthias and Robby were just one part of the body of Christ- all of us have been given “gifts to employ for one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” It is tough to lose our beloved teacher and worship pastor in one fell swoop, but we must trust God and honor him with our thoughts and actions. As a mom, I am saddened when I watch my young sons experience heartache in their little lives. But nothing brings me more joy and pride than to watch them dust themselves off and press on instead of giving up and wallowing in self-pity. I challenge us to do the same for our heavenly Father. God knows that we are reeling from a tough blow. But, He also has a plan for our future and is watching to see who is willing to get to work for His kingdom. I, for one, will pray for God’s strength and joy to continue to be faithful in my spiritual walk and areas of ministry for nothing else than to make Him proud. I can’t wait to see what He does.
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