This week heaven welcomed home a man who embodied what it meant to have an all in relationship with God. When I think of heaven I return to Randy Alcorn’s artistic vision of heaven, where we arrive through from this world into the next into a ‘birthing room’. There we are met by people who were our earthly family and those we impacted with the faith. Jesus standing right there, the center of it all, welcoming us home. I see Rev. Graham, after embracing his savior wiping the tears of joy from his eyes looking around to the mass of people surrounding them asking the savior “who are all these people here?” Jesus, looking at him with love and saying “Billy, these are all the people your life impacted for my kingdom.” Then and there each one, like a wedding line, they each and everyone hugging and embracing Rev. Graham giving him a crown thanking him for showing them God’s love maybe even telling their story on how he impacted their lives. After what seems like an eternity, Billy looks over at the pile of rewards gathered at his feet, turns his face to Jesus and bows down. “My savior, these are for you.” “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT
I wonder if we examined yesterday, and really took some time to break it down, how would it look compared to the example of Christ. I wouldn’t have to look very hard to find times that I either missed an opportunity to share the love of Jesus or find a time where my example was not much of one. We go through life just doing the motions. Not really thinking about what we are doing as they have become ingrained in us. No one can expect us to compare ourselves with other believers, yet sometimes we do that to ourselves. There may never be anyone like Billy Graham because he was called to his particular mission and his purpose. You are called to be you.
To imitate God isn’t something that instantaneously happens when we accept Jesus into our lives. We are a work in progress, we still have to live in this sinful world which will daily grind us done in hopes of us throwing aside the new found freedom we have. The enemy doesn’t want us to be effective in our walk with Jesus. If he has lost you he will do everything in his power to either get you to relinquish the freedom or make you apathetic to the cause of reaching others. Lazy Christians are effective for the enemy.
But as followers of Jesus, we like children should be looking at him as a role model, father figure, teacher. Someone to look up to, aspire to, work to become like, it is what we are called to. He gave us a mission of sharing the same love, that rescued you from the eternity in hell, and to share it to those around us. Those who are like us, those who live close by and may not be like us, those outside our area and those out in the world. Do not be deceived, we are called to tell others about Jesus. If you are not telling others about Jesus, you are not listening to the one who saved you.
What is holding you back from sharing Jesus with people? If we want to experience and all in relationship with God, then we need to share our hope. We can’t keep this awesome truth to ourselves. Learn from Billy Graham’s all in relationship with God, he didn’t keep God’s love to himself and his life and ministry impacted untold numbers of people. God can use you to impact untold numbers of people. Will you let him?
Jesus, we thank you for rescuing us. We ask your forgiveness if we haven’t been faithful in sharing you live with others. Help us to do this daily. Encourage us to see the moments and grasp them. As we see people come to you it will motivate us, even more, to share your love. Set us on fire. They matter to you, so they matter to me. Amen
