Being Zealous :)

   God matters more than we could ever imagine. Psalms 144:4 says that "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." God is trying to tell us to "store up treasures in heaven" instead of on earth, because we aren't going to be here on earth very long anyways, and the only things we can "take with us" to heaven are those things with eternal significance. The Bible says the earth and everything in it will soon pass away, and all we'll be left with is our spiritual treasures, not earthly treasures like money, fame, or popularity. Jesus Christ used the Parable of the Hidden Treasure to illustrate this. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44. We need to realize how gr8 God is and give everything to follow Him.
   Death (and our eternal destination) is just around the corner! Every day we hear of people dying in tragic accidents, extreme weather, anything! But we never think anything like that will ever happen to us. I'm pretty sure those people who have died unexpectedly never thought it would happen to them either! (Thus the word "unexpectedly") Because death is unexpected, and it's also a very real, very close possibility. God could say our time is up any moment now... a sobering thought. Then BAM! suddenly we would realize how much God matters.
   So we need to do something about this! I don't mean to install more airbags in your vehicle, put some more smoke alarms in your house, and wear a helmet everywhere you go. Quite frankly, death will eventually come anyways. No point worrying about it! What I mean is that we need to live life to the fullest. Go party all day long, get drunk, and, uh... oh ya, treasures in heaven - eternal significance. Right. Instead of throwing up our hands and becoming hedonists, we should become completely transformed for the better- by being full of zeal for the one, true, amazing God. We interrupt our regular scheduled programing for a message from our sponsor:

~ Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

~ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

   The definition of zeal: "great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective". Our cause and our objective as Christians is God. I would like to ask you a question: What is the most important thing in the world? Well, if God exists, the answer is obviously God Himself. Because He created us, because He's so awesome, perfect, all-powerful, and all-fulfilling. My pathetic little words can not even begin to describe God. And because He died for you, you can spend all eternity with Him, if you wish. So if you're not a Christian, ask yourself, "Does God exist?" It's the most important question that could ever be asked. Well, now back to zeal - our energy, our enthusiasm, should obviously be incredible because our cause, our objective is God himself.
   I've heard about this one minor soccer coach who said that the only difference between the Christian players and the non-Christian players on his team was that the Christian kids didn't swear as much. Not cool :P Not cool. The classic Christian song Shine by the Newsboys goes like this: "Shine! Make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine! Let it shine before all men, let them see good works and then let them glorify the Lord." Have you seen this Leeland album?

www.leelandonline.com

You and me are called by God to be that one arrow pointing the opposite direction. 179° doesn't cut it. Only 180° works. And people will notice, but that's okay, because that's what God wants. And this zeal of ours needs to be directed by God. For example, recently lots of people have become really enthusiastic about Jesus. That's a gr8 thing - hey, Jesus reigns!!! But some people have taken it too far - they've got all wrapped up in their own passion, their own zeal, that they have rejected the church. There are lots of people who think that "organized religion" is somehow evil. And because they didn't let God direct their zeal, they ended up rejecting Christ himself by rejecting His church.

~ It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. Proverbs 19:2

So to summarize, we need to be on fire for God (that old-fashioned word "zeal") and make sure that it is God's fire, not our own. Oh, and I forgot something! Your age doesn't matter! If you're under 18 (like I am), this still applies!!

~ Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

And one of the best ways to express our zeal for Christ is through love! ♡

~ He [Jesus] answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself." Luke 10:27

~ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

All verses are quoted from the NIV