Front Row Seats

Hello All,

Have you ever felt like giving up? I’m not trying to be morbid and fundamentally, this is just a realization that sometimes life deals us some pretty heavy blows. I think that if we’re honest, when we think of all the problems that befall us; financially, physically, relationally, and many other areas of burdensome disappointment, we’ve probably thought (more than once) of ditching this “Ol’ world” and going straight to Heaven. Trust me, I know.

But what if you could? What if you could simply call on The Lord and have Him remove you from this life his very moment. Would you do it? I know right? not a tough choice there: “Yes! Please!” – But what if after you’ve ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth..and touched the face of God’, you’ve found yourself in a celestial amphitheater where you’re handed your ticket and directed to your seat for the upcoming Celebration where Christ receives His Bride, The Church. You make your way to your row: V where many other people are seated. You shuffle your way past the other guests to your seat: 27.

Immediately, as you strain your eyes to try and make out the preparations taking place on the stage, you realize, you can barely see from so far away. You’re a little troubled thinking “I didn’t think it was going to be like this?” Just then, the person next to you nudges you and responds with "I know right?" – followed by “Yeah, we can all read minds here.” Anyway, you engage in conversation and question, “But why are we all so far back?” In one troubling moment, all the people near you give you the answer – “Because like us, you’re here early. We, like you, all met a moment of despair where we were overwhelmed by our troubles and became more focused on the problem than the Solution and the purpose that God had for allowing us to continue in the problems. This caused us to forfeit the seats He originally planned for us. But Hey! We’re in Heaven and it’s more beautiful than anyone could ever imagine....right?”

You agree at the magnitude of the sheer beauty of Heaven, but somewhere deep inside, you feel the sting of that one single word – “forfeited”.

Knowing what you know NOW - you kind of find yourself wishing you would’ve chose to endure your earthly problems and had rather focused on the Truth of God’s word. Even though things become what seem to be unbearable for what seems to be an eternity, and even though none of your friends seem to be able to understand or offer lasting comfort – Here’s The Word:

2 Corinthians 4: 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Luke 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

So this little fairy tale is ultimately about encouragement to endure the tough times. I remember hearing the phrase “If it was easy, it wouldn’t be called ‘enduring’”. So no, it’s not easy for any of us, but if you could check out early, would you? I’m persuaded that if God knows what I’m going through, then He knows that somehow, me sticking it out will give Him glory in a way that I can’t see.

Contextually speaking, I’m sure that the Luke passage I mentioned doesn’t apply to all the things we think we’ve lost or times we've suffered through; we need to realize that much of our suffering is due to our own choices, not suffering for The Kingdom. The verse assures us God knows our way and He's not onlyh able, but willing to provide for us if/when we’re in His will. And I surely don’t want to forfeit what He has for me, either here or in the life to come!

Who knows what you give up, when you give up…You could be passing up on front row seats!



In Him,
Cros