A New Believer
22 August, 2014
Trillions of people have lived and died on this Earth. Why, then, do I live with the mindset that my life will last forever? Going about daily tasks, I tend to drudge along, mindlessly living a routine without so much as a thought it’ll end someday. Because I live as if I’m eternally on Earth, I rarely ask the Lord to work radically in my life on a day-to-day basis.
Jesus knew from birth exactly when He would die on the cross. As much as five year old Jesus could comprehend the idea of execution, He knew it was His destiny. He knew He would faithfully serve His father as a carpenter until age thirty and have exactly three years to change the world forever through His teachings and miracles.
His life was anything but ordinary, performing miracles right and left to shake the foundations of the world. Jesus knew He didn’t have much time, placing ministry before His meals and rest. Knowing the importance of spreading the Good News, He used His life as an offering for others.
We’re told to follow His lead. As a young woman, I shouldn’t act as if I’ll live forever. Instead, I should live as if I’ll die tomorrow! Placing others before myself, following the calls of Jesus, and serving the church should be my only priorities, placing my physical appearance and personal status in the back-seat of my mind.
As a non-believer, my thoughts were consumed with selfishness, and I thought the world revolved entirely around me. I was obsessed with keeping a slim figure, holding straight A’s, keeping my boyfriend happy, having a pretty Facebook picture, and driving the nicest car. My identity was wrapped up in how other’s perceived me; Heaven forbid they may have thought I had any weaknesses. And, although my life may have seemed put-together on the outside, it was hard for me to fall asleep at night due to worrying about keeping up my artificial social standing. I lived entirely for myself and upholding my facade.
As a new believer and student in a Guatemalan missions school, the Lord has opened my eyes to the tremendous amount of need in the world, especially in downtown Antigua. I’ve seen young boys serving as shoe shiners and young girls caring for their infant siblings. I’ve seen tired women sitting next to a dump holding out a styrofoam cup. I’ve seen homeless men literally cry asking for a slice of bread.
As the greatest man who ever stepped foot on the Earth, Jesus was never too busy for anyone. He came to serve the lost, broken, sick, and undeserving, and not once does the Bible mention Jesus worrying about His reputation, weight, or carpentry skills. He used every waking moment to further His message, leaving everyone He met wide-eyed and wanting more.
