"Zoom - Zoom"

"For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told." (Psalms 90:9)
Obviously this is not a tale that we want told throughout the ages; not unless there is something grand waiting in the end. But isn't that what is waiting, a grand conclusion to a wonderful tale? As I was going to bed last night, I literally had no clue what to make of this verse. As a matter of fact, I didn't even want to try and think about, because I actually did want to go to sleep. Thinking of the children of Israel and their journey, I could not help but place this particular verses as a banner over the ones who passed away in the wilderness. Does that passing mean they did not receive the prize? A big fat No is my answer! Sure, they may not have made it into the promised land, but that does not mean that they didn't make it into Paradise. Who do you think trained up the next generation? It was the ones who knew that they blew it, and now they needed to make sure that their children did not. That's the wonderful thing about this life, whether it is a blessing or a curse, it's what is going to happen after that really matters! Do you notice the dash between those two words in my title, that's meant to be a representation of our lives; we are brought in quickly, and our departure is even quicker, but the dash in between is the tale that is told. Who do you think shared all the miracles the God performed to deliver them from Egypt; it was the parents who were not going in, that raised their children knowing all the wonderful things God had done. To be perfectly honest, our lives are mostly patterned around this same concept. Maybe you aren't wandering around in the wilderness, but if you are living in this fallen world, you are still under the curse; and I know if you are reading this, then you're still under that curse. What does it matter where you die, in the wilderness or on the other side of the Jordan, it is all the same life, and it does not even come close to the life to come, neither one! What is waiting to be revealed cannot be compared to anything in this life. From the very first day of my new life in Christ, I have never looked for this life to be the prize, it's always been heaven. Sure, I might have taken my eyes off the prize from time to time; but when pressed or smitten, the prize was always the first thing that kept me going. Isn't that how Jesus told us it would be? "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that." It's pretty much the same concept. No matter what we might go through in this life, none of that will matter or change the outcome...
"So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears." (Hebrews 12:12-17) NLT