Deadline

We all have them....deadline's....the final appointed time that something is to be completed, or turned in, or decided upon etc. Some of us wait til the last minute while others, who are much more organized than I am, make plans accordingly that will keep them from stepping into a pressure cooker of last minute stress. It doesn't matter which category you fall into...deadlines are to be dealt with. We are dealing with my dad's property right now that we have to clean out, and be out of by a certain time.....so the buyers can move in. The deadline is approaching...but we started early on this one (like a year ago) ..and we though we are working through the process methodically...time just seems to be sprinting by. There is always more than you think...to be done. More arrangements....more stuff....more trash....but I keep thinking...one thing done is one less thing to do. So we carry on pressing towards the deadline.

Regarding our life on this earth, there is only one final deadline....that day when life is over on this earth and we are called to new beginnings. But the thing about this deadline...is though it has been established by God...it has not been made known to us. It could be today, tomorrow or years to come. And I have to ask...am I living life as through there was a deadline...thinking I need to look at my life, and clean out the stuff, throw away the trash and be ready so when Christ does call me forward and upward according to His deadline I won't be in regret mode...leaving behind a mess ..wishing I would have paid a little more attention to His detail and how he would want me to live...without being so concerned about my own way.

We all have a mortal "life" deadline....and so many times, I don't know about you but I take my life for granted...thinking...
only about today....dreaming about tomorrow but not considering that there may not be a tomorrow. If for just one minute I consider that...what would I do differently to get things in order to meet that deadline. Are my relationships as they should be, what about my my words of forgiveness, or words of appreciation. Have I, and am I consciously doing things this day for the glory of our Lord....and am I being an ambassador for his kingdom. Am I striving to live joyfully and peacefully...and contented with what I have and who I have been created to be? The answer is a total "no". I need some serious clean out on all fronts....at all times.

If you separate the word "deadline"....you get "dead" "line". There will be a day when we are no longer on the active status of life on this earth....and our "dead line" will be transformed to eternal "life" "line". Our chances to be an active part of life on this earth will be gone...so now is the time to examine our lives carefully...and sort out what needs to stay (faith and trust and hope in Christ) and what needs to go ( attitudes of bitterness, unforgiven holds, pride and insecurity) and what needs to be given away (love, respect and understanding). We are all on limited time...but the time Christ has given us, is in reality, His time ...even though we don't always consider that. The gifts ( spiritually and tangibly) that we have, are to be used and spent for glory of God while we are here on this earth....before the deadline comes. Not to sit idle, untouched and unused in a seculed cabinet of our minds. Those gifts are to be used for God's purposes.

I work well with a deadline...it is defined point of time and gives me a goal to pursue...but this unannounced heavenly deadline kind of leaves me in limbo...and has brought me to a conclusion; that I better be a planner on this one...to start cleaning out early...and redirecting my life to be sustained under different management. I do have a lot to work on...or should I say Christ has a lot to work on...he does in all of us... if we are honest! But the assuring thing about all of this is...God is in control...and if we let him in...he will work within us to establish His way and transform our tucked away mess of gatherings into His refined and polished set of values, so that we would in turn be able to life according to his will. Then... when the deadline finally is upon us we will be prepared to move on into the glory that comes next...without a bagful of regrets and "oh waits.....

Dear God, You are always on the move...within us. Help us to be willing to accept your guidance, trust in your ways, and live life now for you. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!


website:
www.cathyjodeit.com
http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/
email address: cjodeit@gmail.com