(Note: this is basically just a bunch of my musings written down on a paper; to me it doesn't seem too well put together, but I guess it's all right!)
When I was born, God had special talents picked out for me. Some people tell me I could become a rather well known person. If I put my mind to it, I probably could use some of my talents to become quite popular. On the one hand, perhaps that could benefit other people, bring joy to them; sometimes I feel drawn to become famous, and think "How cool that would be!" On the other hand, I don't feel like I could do that, like I could fit in, nor do I feel sufficiently talented. It's rather pleasant to be praised; quite natural, but to me a human weakness. Yet what would it be like to be praised by many, thousands even? Maybe it's all a big temptation, like when Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. In my heart, I don't want to be great or famous. I want to live for others, not myself; I want to be small and simple, even if it would be hard to do so. Our Lord said that unless we humble ourselves, we shall not be called great by those who matter: the saints, our brothers and sisters in the kingdom of heaven. That is the real greatness;
I am meant for that greatness.
Growing up, I was taught how to be good and holy. It has always been that way. If I have been taught this all my life, why is it so hard to be good? I guess the answer is right in the Bible: "A sinner was I conceived." People sometimes think I'm a virtuous person; well, the truth is, I'm not: I'm a sinner. Once, a lady likened me me to a saint; though I was somewhat made happy at the time, I wonder: where the heck did she get that idea? Maybe she saw in me virtues I don't even recognize, but what I see of myself is sinful. I'm just as bad a sinner as the guy who never goes to church, the atheist mocking God, the murdered who shot a bunch of people, for even the smallest venial sin hurts God just as much as the worst mortal sin. Yet Christ said, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." I am a sinner, but;
I am meant for sainthood.
Who am I? What will I be when I have reached adulthood? I am not sure what my vocation is, but I do know that whatever my calling, I need to give my whole life to God. It does not matter if I become a religious, a wife, or a lay person. The way we get to heaven is by always doing the will of God, regardless of what we are called to. Everyone is beloved by God, no matter how sinful, what race or creed, or what career. Why do you think He died on the cross? God says, "You are mine." For whatever lies ahead, I place myself in His hands.
I am meant for greatness; I am meant for sainthood; I am meant for God.
Comments
thanks
Hey, thanks!!! And thanks for the comment; it gave me food for thought. Oh, and I just remembered this passage: "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." -Matthew 7: 21
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"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." -Bilbo Baggins [The Lord of the Rings]
This is important
Yes, this is important. It would be wrong to say that a person can simply pray a prayer, go on living life in rebellion against God, and still go to heaven.
And yet, on the other hand, we as humans are incapable of earning God's good graces. The verse you pointed out in Matthew is part of one of my favorite illustrations in the bible: that of the fruit trees. Here, while the Master is giving the famous "sermon on the mount", he begins to speak of false prophets, and of how they can be known. He compares people to trees, saying that a person's heart can be known by what kind of 'fruit' or actions the person has.
Then, in verse 21, he says that people can't get into heaven by just saying "Lord, Lord". Those who are doers of the father's will, however, will get into heaven, i.e. the trees which bear fruit of holiness. But according to the rest of the passage (verses 16-23), it is the type of tree which decides whether we get into heaven, not the fruit which the tree bears. The fruit is simply a way that we, on earth, can know the type of tree - "so then you will know them by their fruits".
In other words, it is those who do the will of the father who get into heaven – but it is because of the obedient condition of their hearts, not what they have done:
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” – Titus 3:5
The ‘washing… by the Holy Spirit’ is what causes the good fruit. And yet, you have given me something to think about...
"There are no great men of God. There are only pitiful, sorry men whose God is great beyond measure." - Paul Washer [originally Jonathan Edwards]
food...
True...glad we gave each other more food for thought.
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"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." -Bilbo Baggins [The Lord of the Rings]
Beautiful
This is a brave essay, and beautiful. But I would question one point, were you say that the way we get to heaven is by always doing the will of God.
It is, of course, true that a person who has been saved by Christ's gift will begin to become more like the saviour (Romans 8:3-6). However, the way we get into heaven is not by always doing the will of God, but by surrendering to him once, after he gives us the Holy Spirit:
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into the grace in which we stand; and we exult in the hope of the glory of God... and hope does not dissapoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who was given to us."
Romans 5:1-2,5
But anyway, nice work, and keep writing.
"There are no great men of God. There are only pitiful, sorry men whose God is great beyond measure." - Paul Washer [originally Jonathan Edwards]