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Written by Bill Rudge for “Bill Rudge Ministries” @ https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/
Original post @ https://billrudgeministries.wordpress.com/2023/07/14/leave-nothing-in-this-life/
Leave Nothing in This Life
JULY 14, 2023~ BRM7
BJ Rudge, PhD
Some may think this title reflects a hedonistic lifestyle of consuming all the pleasure you can squeeze from this life and leaving nothing behind that could be consumed for your own benefit. However, that could not be further from the truth.
I heard someone say that when you stand before God make sure you have nothing left to give. What he meant by this was that we should use all of our energy and resources in this life to honor and serve God, so that when we stand before Him, we will not be ashamed of wasted opportunities.
This comment made me think of a man I met when I was in seminary. He was a prime example of servant leadership. His name was Ray and he had served as a missionary for a number of years in China. When we met he was in his nineties, and he no longer had the physical ability to serve on the mission field. In many people’s minds, Ray had walked and served God faithfully; now he was entitled to retire from ministry and enjoy the comforts of life until the Lord called him home.
Even though Ray was up in age and worn down physically, he still knew there was more he could do to further the kingdom of God – in fact, this is how we met. He lived in a dorm on campus and started a ministry of counseling students who were engaged to be married. When he found out I was engaged, he quickly connected with me and our relationship grew from that point on.
Ray was such an encouragement and a great source of information on what God expected of me as a husband. After I graduated from seminary, I heard that Ray was no longer able to take care of himself so he had to be put into a nursing home. I was able to get in touch with Ray, and we wrote to each other and spoke on the phone. I remember him telling me how difficult it was to go to the nursing home. He was not only losing his independence but also the ability to continue his ministry on campus to engaged couples.
Despite the difficulty of his circumstances, Ray told me that God had a new ministry for him; God had now called Him to reach out with the Gospel to the many people in the nursing home who were hurting and alone.
A few months later, I received a message that Ray had passed away. I was saddened to hear of his death, yet knew that Ray’s greatest desire was to stand before the Lord and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
I will always remember Ray as a person who used every opportunity to serve and honor God. His life exemplified someone who, until the moment he left this earth, gave everything he had to God.
The apostle Paul is another great example of someone who left nothing in this life. As he approached the imminence of death, he made the following comment to Timothy:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
While there is nothing wrong with enjoying life, relaxing, and pursuing personal hobbies, we must not put our desires, goals, and aspirations above serving God. In all activities may our lives honor the Lord and reflect His goodness.
I do not know about you, but I want to live a life like Paul and my friend Ray. I do not want to waste the opportunities God gives me. I do not want to be ashamed when I stand before Him or regret not giving Him more of my time, energy, and resources. I want to face death with the confidence of Paul by knowing I have fought the good fight.
May we all run this race to win the ultimate prize and seek every opportunity to give all we have to God (Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
POSTED IN BLOG, TESTIMONIES OF FAITH AND COURAGE PAGE
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To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
You say you are a “born again” believer… BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ?? If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/
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