Well……
Apostle Paul was not.
He even said: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Phil 1:21 NLT). He said that because he couldn’t wait to go and be with Christ (Phil 1:23), but he knew he still had works to do while he’s still alive.
As a follower of God and a firm believer of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we should know that we only live temporarily in this world. It’s just a “temporary business trip.” Our real home is the Kingdom of God, Heaven in up above.
Think of it this way.
We are all working in God’s company. Every one of us was assigned with a task and then sent to the world to complete the task. The task is simple; We have to “promote” God’s kingdom and win souls (or “get new customers” as the business term would put it). The difference is only the time limit. Some are given 18 years, some are given 43 years, and some others are given 87 years to do so. When the time is up, the “letter from the President Director” will be sent to tell you, “It’s time for you to go back to the headquarter. Please present your report to Me in person. Your President Director, God.”
I don’t know about you, but for me… I don’t want to return back and face my Boss and show Him, “This is all I got…” while in fact my heart knows I could have done so much more. And what makes it worse, I know He knows I could have done so much more – that will be a total embarassment!
So, I am just like how Paul put it: I can’t wait to go back to my real home and be with Jesus, lover of my soul, for eternity; but at the same time I also don’t want to disappoint Him with a “homecoming present” that is less than what I can actually give to Him. I want to give Him the best present I can give!
I want to meet Him with joy for finishing the race well and never quitting, and not meeting Him with shame for having fun and play too much during my “business trip” and fail to give Him the best result He expected from me. When I’m back home, I want to be able to say this with joy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Tim 4:7)
So, am I afraid of death? Definitely not!
But am I nervous about the “report presentation”? You bet…
I totally feel the same way. I’m not afraid of death, not quite ready to go though, but when the time comes I will not try to run from it, I will welcome it with open arms because I know where I am going. However, I’m nervous about just how much of what we did in the past is going to effect our “report presentation” as you called it.
Hi Armywifeandkids,
Thanks for sharing your thought. Of course we had our mistakes and sins we committed in the past — at least, I did. But He keeps on reminding me that He is faithful, and if I humbly confess my sins and ask for His forgiveness, He’ll cleanse me and I’ll be as good as new, as clean as snow; hence, no more (bad) past clinging on me.
So, I believe, if you repent and ask Him to cleanse you, you will be fine because God will never accuse you with things that He has erased himself. Just focus on what’s ahead of you and try to do the “task” and prepare the “report”.
There is another article: “God is Faithful, He Will Forgive” (http://operationbible.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/god-is-faithful-he-will-forgive/) on past wrongdoings, that hopefully can be of an encouragement for you. Happy Sunday. God bless.