The ultimate promise

Sometimes I wonder how I’m going to get through the next two years of college. I wonder how I’m going to find a job and be able to provide for myself. I get frustrated when my work load becomes heavy, I get anxious about passing my next final, I get annoyed when something does not go the way I planned it to go. 

I get so caught up in the worries of this life that I forget why I’m even here. I forget how blessed I am and how God provides for everything I need. I’ve been realizing lately how getting frustrated with the little things, and even sometimes with the big things, does absolutely nothing except put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Why do I give in to these frustrations and worries? Why can’t I remember how to live each moment for the one who gave me each moment to live?

Two days ago, a 15-year-old young man lost his life after a long battle with leukemia. I didn’t know him personally, but I have been challenged and strengthened by his testimony. His body was weakening each day, but his spirit was growing stronger as he refused to let go of a promise that was made to him. 

He was willing to let go of his dreams, his desires and his life goals in response to God leading him down a path that nobody can understand. In the midst of his pain, he was encouraging his friends to not be mad at or question God. He was willing to follow God through it all, even through the giving up of his life. 

Thinking about his testimony, I was wondering if I would have the same strength. I was thinking about how trivial most of my problems seem and how I complain about them anyway. I was wondering why I was complaining about my cold that I’ve had for a mere week.

This is not meant to make anyone feel guilty or discouraged about complaining and not being joyful all the time. This is meant to encourage and to help you realize that awesome promise that we as Christians are all given. Tyler is, at this very moment and for the rest of eternity, standing in the presence of God and worshiping him in a way that we cannot even begin to imagine. He is no longer in any pain. He no longer has any fear. 

Just thinking about that creates an overwhelming longing in my soul to be there too. And I will be. Someday I will be there bowing down in worship because Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice to get me there. Shouldn’t my life reflect that? Shouldn’t that reason alone give me constant joy? And shouldn’t I be shouting it from the rooftops so that all people can have this promise too? 

Life will always have trials, and we will always have struggles. But we do not need to be afraid. We have the ultimate promise that one day we will be with him who gave up his life in order for us to spend eternity praising and glorifying him with all other believers. That picture alone is enough to bring joy to my heart.

In memory of Tyler McGinn