Please Don't Spit Me Out...

  Death has been on my mind the past few days. Dying always seems so morbid and sad, but should it not be a celebration for Christians? I was thinking about what would happen if I died today. Who would be there? What would they say? Would anyone think about me 10, 20, 30 years later? Then, I realized something. It wouldn't matter. If I even knew all those details, I wouldn't care. I would be gone and in a new place. So then my mind wandered into that new place. I have done a lot of reading and something that always amazes me is the Bema Seat in Heaven. If I understand correctly, someone feel free to correct me if I don't, there first a throne of judgement in heaven where your salvation is determined, "do you claim Jesus as your Lord..." and so on, but then there is a judgement seat, "bema seat", for those who have been saved. It is on this seat that God examines what you have done for His kingdom during your time on Earth. Anyone scared? I am. I will be trembling knowing that I am being judged by something so great that words cannot describe Him. There is one thing I am sure of, I fear God. I've got that part down. I am still working on the love part, but I know I will never fully comprehend it. So I die, make it to Heaven, make it past the throne...or do I? In Revelations 3:15 it says  

   "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the       other! So, because you are lukewarm- neither cold nor hot- I am going to spit you out of      my mouth."

  Um hello, it's life examination time. Am I lukewarm? I would like to think I am not, but there are places where I can definitely say that I am. That is scary.

  I am currently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. In the book, he gives a great example of lukewarm. He talks about wanting to join the Marines, the commercials are just so catchy.."the few, the proud, the Marines." (That's good PR folk making that happen!) But in every commercial the Marines are running..and running..and running. I hate running. Francis Chan hates running too. Would we ask the Marine's if they would lighten the running and give us an alternative work out plan so we can be more comfortable? Of course not! They would spit us out too! In the same manner, God says "Take up your cross and follow me." We would be foolish to ask for an easier path, more comfortable shoes, or a lighter cross. I can imagine the conversation between Jesus and I... 

"Hey Jesus, can we slow down a bit? I'm about to pass out from all this hiking." 

"Haha you fool, your years on Earth are numbered. You better start sprinting."

"Oh gosh, I think the Marines would have been easier."

                                                  Guatemala-June 2010