This Christmas, Stewart and I were given a book from one of our granddaughters: “To our grandparents: we want to hear your story.”
It starts by asking about the first time we met, and the last two questions in the book ask about places we still want to go and things we still want to do. And between those questions is our life, our journey, and our story. Reflecting over 60+ years, one thing has become evident: my eternal perspectives have changed drastically!
As a 14-year-old girl, my life revolved around having fun and boys. It was about the next adventure. I wasn’t thinking about Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of this earth.” Or Matthew 24:44 ,“Be ready! We do not know when our time comes.” My mind was fully set on the things of this earth!
I knew Jesus as my Savior at a very young age. My parents not only taught us God’s truth, but they were living examples of walking out your faith, fighting the good fight (1Tim.6:12-14), having a gentle spirit (Phil.4:5), being steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in faith (1 Cor.15:58), and being holy in conduct and godliness (2 Peter 3:11-12). Despite my upbringing, I still had my mind set on the things of this earth, but I felt something was missing. There was an emptiness that I kept trying to fill, a longing for something more.
It is said, “Our identity in Christ is a gift of God‘s grace, not a standing that we can earn by hard work and good intentions.” That is truth for me! When the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and heart to God‘s great love for me, that was the door through which everything else followed. I believe that living life and knowing who you are in Christ is the only way to have a good eternal perspective. It is going through good and bad times that helps us realize that our life is not in our hands, it is in the Lord‘s plan.
For me, one of the most drastic changes in my eternal perspective is that our life choices can shape our destiny and have an eternal effect not only on our lives, but others’, either for good or bad. As I look back on my life, there were many times where my choices were not good ones. Thank God for His grace and mercy! He took those things and brought something wonderful and good out of them. My continued prayer is that He would use the good and the bad choices I make and turn them all for good and bring Him glory! We do have a choice; we can do it our way and spend most of our time and energy picking up the pieces and cleaning up our messes, or we can yield to God‘s plan for our lives and have the Holy Spirit give us wisdom and lead us in the right direction.
I will be turning 80 this coming May. My age has never bothered me, it is only a number; it’s not my identity or who I am. But my perspective of my life here on earth and my eternal life in Heaven have become more real, more welcoming (not that I want to rush it, I love my life here on earth.) I have learned to live each day with purpose, to embrace the time with my loved ones, to enjoy and make the most of each moment, even when I am going through a storm, knowing that God still has a purpose for me, and will equip me with everything I need to complete His plan (Phil.1:23). I have learned that a Christian will never die; we will one day go to sleep in Christ and wake in Our Heavenly Home! Jesus will be there to greet me, along with all my loved ones that have gone before.
“O death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory? But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Cor.15:55
“AMEN! COME, LORD JESUS!” Rev.22:20b
We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 