It's Time to Open Our Eyes.

This thursdays post was supposed to be Why I Have Started to Wear Skirts, which will be posted next week, however I have had a pulling on my heart about a topic that I must plead with you. 

You turn on the television and you hear another story of war overseas, missiles shooting down airplanes, murder of children and the hate of people around the world. 

I think that we are so surrounded with stories of death and destruction that we have become numb to it, allowing ourselves to not think at all about it. It is time for us to open our eyes and start thinking of what is happening around the world. Start realizing that we as humans are not invincible. 

Death is guaranteed, its just a matter of when and where, and of that we have no control. 

Don't let those thoughts of, "It won't happen to me or in my town" drown out the fact that we need to be thinking beyond the here and now. We need to remember that God doesn't guarantee us a tomorrow, in fact he guarantees that we will all pass away and he will come like a thief in the night.

For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6

I do not write this to scare you or place fear in your hearts, I write because our society has gotten so wrapped up in multi-tasking, being constantly busy and never slowing down to think about whats truly important. Society will tell you that having the next best iPhone is what you need. That you need to fill that iPhone with a ton of apps that will help you scroll through Facebook, tweet your lunch and answer a phone call all at the same time. 

Society tells you that having the designer clothes or new flats screen TV will bring you contentment and happiness. When you start listening to what society says will fulfill you, God starts to become further down on your priorities list until He is forgotten all together. 

We need to stop pushing God off until another time when we are "less busy". We need to stop making excuses for ourselves, because God is greater, more powerful, more loving than than our gadgets and new technology will ever be. If we are too busy doing things that please us to make time for God then its time to stop being busy. 

We need to reset our priorities, NOW. 

We cannot bring our flat screens, facebooks, bank accounts, cars, or any physical thing into heaven with us. Its just you and what you have or havent done that goes to face judgement. (I am not talking about good works here, I am talking about your relationship and commitment to Christ-- Ephesians 2:8-10)

I am urging you to wake up your spirit, your mind and your soul. Get out of this slumber that we've been in. We need to stop thinking that if we just don't think about life after death that it won't happen. 

We have to change our priorities today, because tomorrow may never come.

God wants to spend time with us everyday so that we may love him and desire to be like him. So that when we do go to heaven he can say "Well Done", not ask us why we thought the new TV drama or anything fleeting was more important than his love and affection. 

We need to stop going through the motions and start having a relationship with God.  A real relationship that causes change in our hearts. 

We need to stop caring for the worries of this world and start focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ who will lead us to everlasting life.  We need to live like today is our last day here, everyday. Placing our priorities in order with God at the very top.  

If you put God first I promise that everything else will balance out in life. Your focus will be on heavenly rewards not Earthly momentary pleasures.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 

Matthew 6:19-21

When we prioritize God, it effects us, the people around us and anyone God puts in our path. God wants to use us to care and bring truth to this world but we need to wake up and say yes to his rewards and not the instant gratification pleasures of this world. 

Lastly, I am not at all saying that technology, iPhones etc are bad, however, they can be used as a time consumer of the precious hours that could be used to do more important things. This is why we need to prioritize because we have so many distractions that it is hard to really emphasize the ones that are truly important. So I challenge you to stop, pray and think about what you hold most important in this world. 

What truly matters to you? If it means a lot to you, you will find a way to make time for it. 

photo credit: louis courtney1 via photopin cc photo credit: seyed mostafa zamani via photopin cc