What's Next As This Too Shall Pass

The week after my return from India I was thinking about various aspects of the trip. I love to travel and am so thankful that the Lord has placed an international vision in our hearts.

However, even though I enjoy working overseas there is that aspect of "different" that has to be dealt with. The food is different, the culture is different, the comforts of life are different. Then there is the taxation on our bodies to travel such long distances on relatively short trips.

During my return flight I flew from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Washington Dulles airport. It was a flight that lasted a little over 14 hours. In case you have never been on an international flight, that's a long time in a metal tube.

When traveling to places where the comforts of home are not available, I have often said that a person can endure anything for a week or two. when I have found myself in uncomfortable situations or sitting on an airplane for such a prolong period of time I have often comforted myself with the words, "This too shall pass."

As I was thinking about aspects of this recent trip I was thinking about the length of the flight back to the States. Fourteen hours is a long time to be on an airplane, but in the same token it went by relatively fast. As I considered how such a long time went by relatively fast I had a sort of "mini vision," if I could call it that.

I call it a "mini vision" because I really didn't see anything and it was what seemed to be only a split second. But in this split moment of time I realized that I was no longer on earth, but in heaven in the Presence of God.

Then the Lord started dealing with my heart. Even though it may seem that this life encompasses a long period of time, this too shall pass. Before we know it the Appearing of the Lord will be upon us and we will be in the Presence of Almighty God giving an account of our lives.

The reality of living in the last days really sunk in, but even more than that the question of "what are we doing with our lives" became more real than ever before.

It seems we invest so much in that which is passing away and put on the back burner the things that really matter. When looking at the conference we just held I know first hand that it was really expensive. Some may wonder why we spent so much money, but the reality is lives were changed forever. We may not know the extent of our reach until we stand before the Throne of God, but this one thing I know -- the things we do in service to the Lord to build His Kingdom will endure forever.

Don't let your life's focus be about this natural world that is passing away. Before you know it this too shall pass. Lay up in store that which is eternal by making the focus of your life about the things of God. In the end you will be eternally glad that you did.