Transitions In Life

As some of you may know, my brother Paul has been in a transitional stage; going from life here on earth to an eternal life in Heaven and yesterday he entered his final destination at 10:30 p.m.  Hospice calls the stages toward death transitioning.  I began thinking that all through our lives we are transitioning from one year to the next, one time of life to the next and even from one spiritual plane to the next.  Transition is an ever-occurring thing, not just when you die.

Think of all the stages. When we grow up, we transition from our parents care into our own.  Then many of us transition from a single person to a married couple, then into parents.  At some point we transition from parents raising children to parents of adults then often grandparents. We transition from the work force to retirement and then the final stages of life.  With each year we are being moved from one plane of life to another, it just happens and it’s not really a bad thing, but a necessary one.  Often, we feel it all happens way to fast.

I believe we can transition our faith from an immature one to a mature one by seeking the Lord and studying His word.  Just as we changed from being children overseen by our parent to adults, we can choose also to grow up in our faith. 

I don’t know about you but when I was a child, I was looking forward to growing up and being my own boss, meaning taking control of my own life.  Some children have a hard time departing, but even though I had great parents, I did not feel that way, I was happy to become an adult.  I guess that’s the independent spirit in me that said to my Mom when I was little, “No do it myself!” I have to say that spirit has got me through some difficult situations and kept me moving forward.  Sometimes I have to tell myself (or my body will tell me) take your foot off the gas a bit and slow down!  Mustang Sally, right?

The same could be said about growing up in our faith life.  Are we willing to grow up and dig in and live a life of our own faith? I believe there are some that take what the Pastor says on Sunday and that’s good enough for them, therefore not digging into scripture, praying and communicating with God on their own.  I believe they may be living on someone else’s faith, not making it personal and their own with the Lord.  The scary thing about that is these verses.

Matthew 7:21-24 “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons, and in your name, perform any miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!”  “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

The thing is, if a person has not created their own relationship with God, it’s not going to matter if they go to church or do good things. He does not know you and you do not know Him.  In the end your house will fall and He just may say, “I never knew you!” 

So, life is full of transitions, just make sure the most important one of growing your faith and relationship with the Lord is your first priority.  Like my brother, in a blink of an eye you too could be transitioning from this life to the next.  Make sure your heart has Jesus in it.  Also make sure you are serving others because you have His heart in you, in that way, you will love what He loves and put His word into practice.

Prayer

Thank you for the changing times of our lives, for they make us grow.  Lord, forgive us because we often fight change.  Help us embrace life and death in a way that is healthy and holy.  Help us see that we are more than flesh and blood but spiritual beings. Help us walk through the tunnel of sorrow into the light of your love and joy.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

God Bless

Sally

A song for Paul