Urgency

The irony with this post (as we haven't even started but you can see the title) is that I've been wanting to write it for a year now. As I worked through a slew of issues with my counselor last year, I was encouraged to give these thoughts to the world. After all, I do have a blog! (Maybe I should become consistent at this again. That would be truly wonderful. Alright, it's happening. Gotta provide that Biblical insight into world issues! I digress.)

When I was 14, little home-schooled Hannah went to public school for the first time. It was paradise. Socialization for the then-extrovert! (How times have changed lol)

I was able to minister to all the people I wanted. My busy and troubled mind was distracted from itself by the daily tasks of school, work, homework, and friends. It really was exactly what I needed at that time in life, even though I often look back with bitterness towards the experience.

I wanted deep and authentic friendships. Lucky for me, this girl I met did, too. Her name was Anna. She was also a Christian, and we bonded by harmonizing to worship songs together and talking about cute boys at church. Our entire school schedule including extracurriculars lined up, so we were together constantly.

Near the end of the school year, Anna passed away in a horrible car accident. As I have healed from this and some of you may remember, I would talk about it more frequently. But that was the most jarring thing I had ever been through up to that point in my life, and honestly, still to this day 8 years later.

I was beyond confused and angry. Looking back, it almost seemed like God had been warning everyone that it was coming. Our themed shirt for show choir that year said "keep your eye on the road" on it, which is what the man in the pickup truck did NOT do as he rammed into the back of Anna's family van pulled over with car troubles on a highway. Even knowing her spirit joined Jesus in Heaven, I still couldn't grasp the reality of the situation.

I had already been passionate about spreading the good news of Jesus, but this really set the tone of urgency in my faith. The fact of this life is that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Life is so sensitive and futile. We are fragile beings (yet so, SO complex. Our Creator is really cool, thoughtful, intentional....) and while we can make a meaningful life on this earth, it goes by in a blink.

Something that I chose to base my entire life on is the fact that the Big Bang happened, but Someone said "Let there be light," in order to make it so. Someone designed all of the observable sciences we see today. I base my life on the notion that everyone has the choice to follow the God of the universe, or their own path; I think of it as everyone on earth gets their own path, but some choose to let God guide them through theirs. That's me! And I firmly believe that our spirits continue on after our bodies retire. It's just a matter of where you go. To spend more time with God? Or to be separated from Him (and all the goodness that entails) forever?

Anna passing away helped me see how broken and scary the world is, and how this really is not our true home. This is a very corrupt place and that's why almost every human being is left wondering what else there could be. Do we live to just die? Is this it? Why are we here?

This brings to mind a quote, "For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.” ― Randy Alcorn, Heaven.

(I have other posts that touch on why bad things happen if you want to to check that out! Scroll on through and find it!! God's original design was not this way.)

In the same vein, it is also so important to go about this gently. No one wants televangelist style condemnation, and no one wants to be yelled at from a street corner. The way Jesus went about this was all with love. I have another post (Lines Some Christians Cross) touching on the gentleness and discernment you have to use so you don't come across as judgmental, controlling, etc). Find that one to read about how we cannot expect the world to act like Jesus does when they haven't chosen Him.

ALSO, I have heard that The Chosen is a great TV show that accurately depicts the life of Jesus and His ministry. I would check that out if you would like to see Jesus in action, rather than reading it from a Bible that is sometimes really hard to understand. (I've been there!! I get it!!!)

This isn't necessarily a deep dive into the Bible about urgency (although, check out the bottom of this page to see a bunch of references on the matter) like the style of my other Biblically viewed world problems. It's more of a look into my heart, as well as so many other Christians' hearts.

This is NOT about "converting" people (I hate that word), or shoving our beliefs down their throats. This is about acknowledging the brokenness of the world we are living in and wanting to invite people into the HOPE and confidence we have in our LORD Jesus Christ. Walking with God while on earth and in our current society is VERY challenging to navigate sometimes, but it's also so reassuring to know that the One who designed us (and the temporary home we have) has a plan for us, and wants to spend time with us in eternity after this life, too. Thank goodness that will be a place with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears!! (Revelation 21:4)

If you're reading this and haven't chosen to make that decision to give your life to Jesus, but would like to know more about what that means, please text or message me! I would love to have a call or sit down and talk with you about the blessing it is to choose God!! And if you're reading this and haven't chosen to make that decision and don't want to know more about what that means, thank you for reading this far. I want you to know the heart of genuine Christ-followers, and not the rules rules rules the church and many "Christians" have dumped upon the world.

AND if you're reading this and consider yourself a Christian, my call to action for all of us, is to keep each other accountable in how we go about sharing the good news. Or even, push each other to do so more! (In healthy and Christ-honoring ways!)

Thank you for reading my first post in 11 months. Like I said, it was not the typical scriptural deep-dive I normally do, but it was more of an exercise from my counselor to express this passion of mine and the reason behind it.

Biblical references on urgency:

Romans 13:11

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Matthew 24:42-44

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Bible verses on Heaven being our final destination:

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

2 Corinthians 5:8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

John 14:1-31 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Philippians 1:21-26

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me."