My Front Porch

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith just as the sun was beginning to rise and by the time I could see it in the sky it was almost as if I could hear Him say “GET TO WORK!” My Heart has been Tenderized…my Soul has been Revived…and my Mission for this Journey called Life has been made clear for this new day. But of all the things that will “equip” me to do the work I was born to do – today, tomorrow, and until He calls me Home, it’s having a Heart that mourns for lost people that so desperately need the Hope. So I “get to work” to Share before it’s too late for them. It’s that part that propels me…that stirs my compassion…that drives me to my knees, that causes me to weep on their behalf…and that creates a sense of urgency within me for the Work to be done for the Master of my Life before it’s too late. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

I don’t know if I’ll ever understand how it’s possible to Receive the Gift of Salvation and yet lack the desire to EVER share the Good News with others. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand how anyone can freely receive Grace and Mercy and yet lack the desire to extend it to others. I’m not sure if I’ll ever understand how anyone can receive Forgiveness when they didn’t deserve it and yet they refuse to extend forgiveness to someone else. I’m not sure if I’ll ever understand how people of Faith can turn a blind eye to the suffering in this world or how it’s possible to NOT feel the pain of the lost ones. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand how people can gladly receive the Blessings of things like a home and food and yet lack the desire to share what they have with others. There are countless things I’ll probably never understand on this side of Heaven like why people of Faith refuse to do what they were Created to do, but if I could pick one thing that stands between them and doing what we’re ALL called to do, it would be that their heart is “three sizes too small” and they love themselves far too much to possibly mourn on behalf of another. Jesus wept over the condition of the Heart, so it only makes sense that His people would strive to have a Heart like His …one that mourns the suffering of the lost ones…the deceived ones…the broken ones. If we have no desire to have a Heart like His, could that mean that He never had our Heart in the first place and that we’ve merely been spectators all along? Now THAT’S something to pray about. The stakes are too high to not know the Truth.

I wonder what kind of heart it takes to see a house on fire and not care if there is anyone inside or if there is any way to help save the life of another? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to see someone drowning and not consider jumping in or caring if there is any way to save their life before it’s too late? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to witness a car accident and then drive by without stopping to see if there is anything to be done to help? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to stand by as someone beats someone else to a pulp without trying to stop it before it’s too late? I don’t really wonder what kind of heart it takes because I encounter that kind of heart every day…and so do you. It’s the kind of heart that doesn’t care enough about the Eternal Destiny of someone else to ever Share the Gospel. Although it’s a heroic thing to do to step in to help someone else at risk here on earth, it’s an entirely different Story to step in with a Message that can alter their Eternity…the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what they need the most. So, what kind of heart does it take? A cold, uncaring, heart OR a Heart that doesn’t really know the King of all kings and the Price that was paid for all. Now THAT’S something to pray about.

I don’t have a perfect life on this earth but my Future is an entirely different story. I don’t take my Salvation for granted and I don’t turn a blind eye to the lost ones who need what I have. I don’t take time for granted and I don’t put off sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ for a time when (or if) I feel like it. I never lose sight of who I was before Christ and I KNOW that there is no good thing in me apart from Him. The entire Journey of Life excites me BUT knowing that time is short for the lost ones creates a sense of urgency to Share the Good News as far and wide as I can…as fast as I can. I’ll be mourning for lost people all the days of this Life because it’s the Heart for the suffering that keeps me going…it always has and it always will. Now THAT’S something to pray about.

How about you?