Over the course of the last few weeks many of my favorite summer plans, from the church camps I love to summer outings with our teens and friends, have been canceled.  My typical “crazy” summer is anything but crazy this year. In fact in many ways, my summer is now “crazy” empty. My guess is you may be experiencing the same thing. Many of the things you enjoy and look forward to each spring and summer have been postponed or even canceled all together. While I do understand why things have been canceled, I still feel disappointed and sad to be missing these events and activities.

However, there is something else that has been canceled for each one of us that should cause us to rejoice rather than feel disappointment: the cancellation of our sins. You see, no matter how good any of us may be, none of us could right all of our wrongs before God. There is and never has been a way for you or me to redeem ourselves on our own merits. Thankfully, God provided a way for us to be redeemed. 

Jesus went to the cross of Calvary and paid the ultimate price. Through this one very heroic act you and I can have our sins canceled or expunged (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:26). The beautiful thing about this cancellation is it was not just for certain people or places but for the whole world (John 1:29; 3:16). Jesus gave His life so we could live ours and stand unashamed before God. 

Right now some event or activity you really enjoy has probably been canceled. Chances are more cancellations will take place in the coming weeks. When this happens, will you stop and consider the greatest cancellation that has ever taken place? Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins is the greatest cancellation we can imagine (Psa. 103:10-12). It’s the one cancellation we can all celebrate and appreciate. And then, lift up your voice in thankful prayer to the one who made all things possible.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Over the course of the last few weeks, my life has changed significantly. I’m sure many of you are experiencing the same changes. Activities and events I was once involved with have come to a creeping halt. And while this may cause some people to feel uneasy and maybe even a little disappointed, this change has helped me discover the insignificance of the things we spend so much of our time doing. Those things will not really matter when all is said and done.

The apostle John recorded some words many years ago that are very applicable for us today. He wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:15-17 ESV).

If we stop and examine our lives, we may find we have spent a lot of time focusing on the wrong things. Chances are many of the things we focus on are our own fleshly and worldly desires. According to John, this is the wrong way to live our lives. Our focus should not be on things that will eventually pass away but on loving God and desiring to do His will above all else.

Over the last several weeks I’ve been surprised to realize just how much of our lives are built around things that will only pass away. When all is said and done, the only thing that will matter is whether or not we have done the will of God. When we live according to His will, we will have the privilege of being together with God forever. Sadly, if we do not, we will be cast away from the presence of God along with many of the things we wasted so much of our lives focusing on.

Now that’s Something to Think About!