Sunday, July 20, 2008

TEARS OF REGRET

My Honey preached a great message tonight and I wanted to share just a few snippets of the notes that I took tonight in the evening service.

When you get to Heaven, how much of what you've done here on earth will endure the test of the judgement seat? How much will turn out to be wood hay or stubble and burn up right before our eyes? Will we be shocked to see the size of the pile that remains, the gold and silver?
There will for sure be some tears of regret in Heaven, will there not?


What sort of regrets will we weep over?

*Foolish priorities we've had.
Things we've spent money on: hair products (have you ever added up the amount of money you've spent on hair care products over the past, oh say, 10 years?), dog or cat food and products, home improvements, unnecessary shopping - just to shop - then once you get there, you HAVE to buy something since you're shopping.
Those things aren't bad in and of themselves. But we seriously need to strive for a balance in our lives. The cause of Christ SUFFERS today when high value is placed on LOW value things.
* Flippant positions we've held to.
Things that won't matter in eternity, like facial hair on men, eating pork, drinking coffee, etc.
We major on the minors and minor on the majors. Where is the balance in that sort of thinking?
To some Christians, church attendance, Bible reading and prayer have become optional in their life, but they would never miss a day of work or a family reunion or scheduled appt. such as the dentist. Yet when it comes to church functions or even just simple church attendance, sadly, way too many Christians these days say "I have other things to do today."
* Flippant conduct.
We don't think a thing about lying, swearing, gossip or backbiting. But we'd never say a cross word about the boss we work for. Our flippant conduct really reveals who we are.
*Flippant giving.
We don't tithe because it's a "tight week." Have we ever NOT had a tight week? Doesn't everybody have tight weeks, these days? Why is it that when the finances are strapped, tithing is the first thing to get kicked to the curb? But we make sure the union dues at work are paid up! Then there is the cell phone - gotta pay that! And *GASP!* What about the cable bill - we HAVE to pay that or they'll shut it off!

We just need to make sure Christ is in His rightful place in our lives - first place. And all our other priorities will fall into the right place. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to Heaven and see all that I've done "for the Lord" burn up because it was only wood, hay and stubble. I want, what I do for Him, to last.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. I Cor. 11-14

2 comments:

Terri said...

This is a great reminder! Thanks!

Julie's Jottings said...

That was great! Thank you!