A DAY OF CELEBRATION: Yesterday was such a good day. Why? My husband and I attended the funeral of his 97-year-old aunt. Again, Why was that such a good day? Aunt Niva finished this life well. Her funeral was the joyful celebration of a long life lived well. When I commented to one of her daughters that the Niva I knew, of course, would be different than her experience, I was corrected. Wow! Authenticity is high praise. I was reminded of a quote from To Kill A Mockingbird in which young Scout is informed that her father, Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets. Similarly, everyone present had experienced Niva’s kindness, her gentle encouragement, and her statements of faith. Per Niva, The souls of the just are in the hands of God. In the sight of the unwise they appear to perish, but they are at peace. Throughout the service, the promise of eternal life was referenced and embraced. There was no question of Niva’s belief in the Lord Jesus Christ or her character. Together, we could all rejoice that she was at peace, and seeing Jesus face to face. It was a very good day. If you or I died this week, would our people be able to celebrate us with such certainty and joy?
GETTING READY: HERITAGE OF HOPE urges folks to get their financial affairs in order, make Christ-honoring final arrangements, create their own unique 4th quarter game plan as well as build a support team. I so admire those who face their own mortality and pursue the Heritage of Hope process to completion. However, finishing this life well involves so much more than completing the HOH Checklist on pages 22-23. The very first task, “embracing faith in Jesus Christ,” is all encompassing or should be.
SAVED BY FAITH: Not all memorial services are as victorious or uplifting as was Niva’s. It is possible to arrive in Heaven, saved by the blood, adopted by the Father, but not victorious. Such an immature Christian walk could be likened to a marriage that is not particularly joyful or intimate, yet it is still legal. An experiential relationship with Jesus is not automatic; it must be developed. Sadly, there are those whose lives leave little evidence of their faith. Loved ones are left to wonder whether or not they will be reunited in eternity. What can we do to be sure we ourselves finish this life well?
VICTORY BY ADOPTION: The secret to a victorious or triumphant life is partaking of the divine nature given to us when we are adopted by God. In a human adoption, both parents and children struggle to understand those whose personality traits are so very different than their own. As an adoptive parent, I can testify to this. Thankfully, as God’s adoptees, we have more than our own DNA available to us. Tony Evans discusses the seed of divine nature given to us extensively in a sermon series, A Triumphant Journey to Heaven, based on the 1st chapter of 2 Peter. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4 NLT
To finish this life well, 2 Peter describes God’s curriculum for developing our divine nature. Initially, we need to seek VIRTUE or moral excellence. KNOWLEDGE is the next ingredient followed by SELF-CONTROL and PERSEVERANCE. GODLINESS or a lifestyle pleasing to God is next in God’s lesson plan followed by BROTHERLY KINDNESS as well as LOVE–compassionately meeting the needs of others. Growth means operating more and more on faith in the promises of Jesus and less in self-confidence. The question is . . . which nature are we feeding and developing–our sin nature or that seed of the divine?
LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Since I repeatedly fall short of my goals and desire to serve God, I am extremely thankful we are saved by faith not works. According to Randy Alcorn, however, our earthly efforts are not in vain. God is grooming us for leadership. He’s watching to see how we demonstrate our faithfulness. He does that through his apprenticeship program, one that prepares us for Heaven. Christ is not simply preparing a place for us; he is preparing us for that place. Pages 223-224, Heaven.
We are developing the very skills and insights we will need for our heavenly assignments! Does this seem intriguing or far-fetched? Review the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus clearly taught that our heavenly assignments are determined by how we carry out our earthly responsibilities. Ageism says we are old at 50, pretty well used up at 60, and of little use beyond 70. What does God say in Matthew 25? We Christ followers are in training, boot camp if you will, for our most important assignment of all. He is contemplating our eternal occupations based on how we are currently employing the gifts and talents He has given us in this life. Are we casual, committed, or all out Christians?
Your future assignment may or may not motivate you, but hearing the Father say, Well done. . . that stirs my heart. One of my dear friends signs every letter and email, Working for the well done. Whom she serves is quite clear. As I think about it, this friend shares many of those character qualities that describe Aunt Niva. May they come to describe all of us as we finish this life well.
