This Is Not A Rehearsal

Taking life for granted is one of the worst mistakes any of us can ever make. We can end up sleeping through most of life, as if we thought it would somehow just go on forever. For many of us, life has a certain air of unreality and sometimes it seems that someone had better issue the warning: This is not a dress rehearsal. This is the real thing.

Jesus made it clear to us when He said ‘I’ve come to light a fire on earth,’ and ‘and how I wish the blaze were ignited!’ What exactly does He want to set afire? Us! All of us! He wants to fire us up with enthusiasm for the marvellous possibilities that life holds out to us - both here and in the hereafter. Specifically, He wants to see us commit everything we’ve got to making God’s kingdom of love and peace come here and now. A task of that magnitude requires total commitment and admits of no ambivalence.

So what does the Lord see when He looks at us? A heart ablaze? Smouldering embers and a little smoke? A pile of dead ashes? Jesus had some hard words about folks who tried to get away with minimal commitments. ‘Be either hot or cold,’ He said. ‘If you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth.’

That’s what He said.

It would probably be wise to take Him at His word!

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Christ Jesus, You have given us the gift of life and the freedom of spirit to celebrate our lives. Teach us to recognise when we are taking these gifts for granted and at the same time, hold our hands as we re-light our flames within. It is through You and with You that we regain our sure footing and rekindle our lives. And it is without You that there is nothing but darkness. You Are the light! Amen

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