Food for thought

Here's another quote from John Piper that really got me thinking:

"If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, COULD YOU BE SATISFIED WITH HEAVEN IF CHRIST WAS NOT THERE?”

Is our salvation based on what God can do for us... well yes, we can't save ourselves or make ourselves right before him. But sometimes, as a result of that, we make the gospel about us when it was never meant to be that way. The beauty of the gospel is God rescuing us from darkness (Col. 1:13) and giving us the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

The point is, it's not about us and it never was. It is a story of God's grace and mercy to his enemies (yes that's us see-Romans 5). And the best part... the absolutely BEST part about it, is being able to have fellowship with God. Yes, we do receive some pretty amazing promises from God because we are his children (i.e. no longer slaves to sin - Rom. 6, eternal life - John 3:16, etc.). But more amazing than that is that we have the unbelievable privelege to be intimate with the almighty God. And I can promise you, there is NOTHING in heaven or on earth that is better than being with HIM!

So what does this mean for our lives? Well, thanks for asking. It means that we no longer live moral lives to avoid guilt. it means we no longer live in a way to make ourselves look good. It takes our discipleship to a whole different level. We live in such a way that gives God the most glory. Hey, maybe it even means we share our faith even when it's uncomfortable. The point is: Our soul reason for living is to give honor and glory to the one who has called us out of darkness and who has saved us from His wrath.

I hope this makes sense... because God has really been working in my heart and challenging me with some of this! Hopefully he'll do the same for you!