“One Shot”
Watching the Olympics brings to mind the phrase “one shot”: to ‘achieve in a single attempt.’ These athletes have trained a lifetime for their one shot at the gold. Likewise, our race on earth is our preparation for eternity (Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Cor 9:24-27): our training for reigning (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Tim. 2:12).
Revivalist Leonard Ravenhill said 'you can’t catch up on your prayer life when you get to the judgment seat of Christ.' And that applies to everything! We have one shot in this life, although our one-shot is a lifetime of choices. And though we may 'miss the mark' many times, we must never stop trying to “give it our best shot.”
The 18th century evangelist George Whitefield said every time he preached, he did so as if it were his last. At my age, I think about that more often—each conversation, interaction, act of kindness (or rudeness), or each blog post might be my last. Whatever your age, it is no less relevant. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. And may the Lord show us his approval and make our 'one shot' successful.” (Ps 90:12, 16).
Hi Dr. Greg,
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I gree that our time here is but a wisp compared to what is to come. It is like spending all of one's time on the front porch and calling that porch place our home. The front porch is the place where we transition from where we were out in the world (full of garbage, disease, emtotional turmoil, lack of internal and external peace), to where we will be. For us, depending on our decisions in the here and now, it will hopefuly be in a place that celebrates love and peace and where we are welcomed with open arms.
Our brief time here on the planet is our opportunity to prepare for that forever time with our forever family. Just as there are things that we can do now that will make a family reunion more peaceful and more loving, so there are things that we can say, do and believe that will help us be better prepared for a family full of love and peace.
Godspeed! Larry
"looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord... according to the promise of a new heavn and a new earth." 2 Peter3:11-13
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