I Believe

  I used to think it was kind of pointless to dream big dreams, because, well, Jesus would probably be coming back in the next year or two, so would I even really get to grow up and do any of the things if I did plan? (And what could I even really do in that time?) This was sometimes accompanied by a nagging guilt about not doing a better job of sharing my faith, or really living in general. 

  My Dad was the one who managed to address this with me, whether he meant to or not, by asking, “Well, what if the end wasn’t going to be quite so soon? What if Jesus didn’t come back in the next couple of years?”

  Which, while that could sound practically heretical to some preachers, who teach that living as though Jesus could come tomorrow is best (there is some value to that teaching, but it needs a balance if it’s going to be taught as a foundation for someone who hasn’t lived very long and doesn’t understand very much), actually resulted in some amount of hope, for me. “You mean… I might actually get to do some stuff? That today’s ‘score’ isn’t the last one I’ll have on my scoreboard? That there’s hope to improve, and grow, and some time to ease into important things?”

  Ahh. That’s a relief. I think to myself as I let go of some of the tension I can’t explain. 

  And this is why I’m not the hugest fan of statements that claim the end of the world will be this week. 

  I believe that God’s grace is still being shown in myriad ways in the world today, whether that is in exposure or breaking, in drawing away from what has been back to His arms, and in healing from our pasts. That His glorious plan is still being worked out in our lives. 

  I believe that we all need to ‘keep short accounts’ with God, not leaving until tomorrow repentance or connection or praise (not that I couldn’t do better with each of those) but that this shouldn’t be out of fear that we might see him sooner than later. 

  And I believe that there is great value in the dreams we dream right here on earth, and the kind of lives that we live. Not always living out of a suitcase, per se, afraid to lay down any roots. But honoring God with how we go after the ambitions, large and small, that fill us with excitement. Because… excellence in our lives glorifies God. 

  There are many messages I’ve heard, too, on surrender, and what God might ask us to give up. Which can sometimes lead to fear about committing to anything at all, lest it be taken away. 

  I believe that God has something much better for us than a life lived like this. A plan that can include roots, and depth, life and time that will eventually run into eternity, one way or another. 

  A plan that raises hope for better connections and more restoration than we dare to dream of, even though there are broken and surrendered places in all of us, where joy has yet to grow. 

  So, rather than shout ‘the end of the world is nigh,’ I much prefer John and Jesus’ declaration:

  “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

  Because God’s kingdom is both here and in eternity. And as members of it, we aren’t just waiting around for eternity to lend our lives lasting significance. 

  Thank you for enjoying this post from Mountain Chickadee! If this made you smile and you’d like to see more in the coming weeks, please consider subscribing to my Substack!