The Trip of a Lifetime!
By the time this is published, my grandson will have prayerfully returned home from two weeks of traveling. He began with a trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City with his high school class. He concluded the trip by visiting NASCAR mechanic schools in and around Charlotte, NC. (Of course, he also devoted a great deal of time to visiting famous NASCAR garages and seeing their cars, museums, pit crew practices, etc.) As he describes it to me, it has been “the trip of a lifetime!”
Any of us who have been blessed to see and imbibe the greatness of something we’ve only dreamed of enjoying have made similar remarks about such trips. The memories made from such experiences last a lifetime, and therefore, those events (usually occurring but once in our life) are events of a lifetime!
My grandson’s ambition is to become a NASCAR mechanic, work in a garage with these crews, and work his way into driving the car. This has been his dream for several years. He has become very proficient in I-RACING, which is where many professional NASCAR drivers began and continue as a means of practice to keep their skills sharp. His knowledge of NASCAR is astute, and he intends to make it his livelihood.
The wise focus on their abilities and develop them into attainable goals. The Christian must be no different. Our ambition is to obtain Heaven eternal. To do so, our focus must be constant upon that goal. As Paul writes to Colossae, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2) Obtaining heaven is not an automatic benefit of being a Christian, just as my grandson’s ambition of being a driver in NASCAR is not an automatic reality. Christians must prepare themselves to go to Heaven (Colossians 3: 1 – 17; 2 Peter 1: 1 – 11; et al.). And the journey toward Heaven makes every day “the trip of a lifetime!”
The apostle Paul spoke of the journey when he wrote to Timothy, saying, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 6 -8) Paul wasn’t always on the right path for this journey (Acts 26: 9 – 20). But when he obeyed the gospel, he was never negligent in continuing his focus upon making Heaven his eternal home (Philippians 3: 13 – 16).
No one disputes the grandeur of God’s creation and the “trip of a lifetime” when blessed to see these wonders. Even for those who have seen all “seven wonders of the world,” their memories cannot compare to the wonders God has in store for the redeemed (1 Corinthians 2: 9). To learn and obey God’s truth sets the soul on a journey that promises all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and continues to promise Heaven if we remain faithful throughout our lives (1 John 2:25; Revelation 2:10; 14:13).
Just as in any “trip of a lifetime,” challenges meet us. But on this journey, God is our guide, and all fears are taken away (Hebrews 13: 5 – 6). Just as in any “trip of a lifetime,” we will need to be refreshed, and we find that is accomplished day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16) by study (Romans 10:17). The Christian will find every day has its blessings, excitement, opportunities, and yes, from time to time, disappointments. While those disappointments are few and fleeting, they can and often do become discouragements, and unless we guard ourselves against the hurt of these discouragements, the devil finds this soul an easy prey. (cf. 1 Peer 5:8). By remaining faithful, we realize God comforts us and banishes the discouragement (Romans 16:20; Hebrews 13: 20 – 21).
Being a Christian is indeed “the trip of a lifetime!” A lifetime of service in the Lord’s kingdom with the promise of an eternal life with Him in Heaven!