From John Collins Ministries:
Pastor John Collins writes:
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lords’; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” Psalm 115:16 (NKJV).
God has given you life and you need to enjoy it. As you walk
the path that leads to righteousness, you will face many situations that make
you realize that it is a battle not just outside in the world and with those
you encounter but also within yourself. God wants you to fight the good fight.
God wants you to seek to please Him and to do the right thing in life. Be charitable,
be good, be kind, be forgiving, be loving and compassionate toward others. As
you go about doing these things you will have to battle your own demons. We all
have them. We all think of the easy path, the shortcut and the darker
temptations in life and it is that battle that you must encounter each day.
So, what are you fighting for? Is it just to get to heaven?
That narrow focus can make a person crazy, burn out or just give up. If you
cannot see that life has meaning, that you can enjoy life then it is easy to
lose your way and fall off the path of the faithful. You have to take the time
to live, to feel really alive and to acknowledge that your life is a blessing
for all of the struggle. What makes you feel alive? Is it standing in the rain,
walking on a beach, riding on a four-wheeler in your swimsuit in the middle of
winter surrounded by snow, or maybe it’s a candlelight dinner with your most
special someone followed by a dance? Whatever gives you pause and delights your
soul is what you should take the time to do. It does not have to be often and
it does not have to be so planned that the moment gets lost but you should be
looking for those moments in your life that become the memories that you prize.
You will take those with you because they belong to you forever.
In your day to day life you may feel run down and
overwhelmed with the mundane. In your day to day life you may become
discouraged. You need to allow yourself those special moments where you catch
your breath and you even need to make the effort to recognize the moments that
you have already had and seek out more. That is what you are fighting for in your faith. You see, heaven is full of joy and people who feel that intense
awareness of love and hope and happiness every day. You will never truly seek
to become a righteous person if you don’t believe in that promise and in order
to truly believe in the promise you need to trust and believe in God. It is
easy to believe in the truth of God when you can glimpse joy in its perfection
in experiences in your life that touch your soul and become engraved on your
heart. That is a blessing from God and you should never underestimate His
greatness and your connection to Him.
“May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:14-15 (NKJV).
