FULLY SATISFIED. 7 Days to a Well-Invested Life RON MOORE

Transcription

1 FULLY SATISFIED 7 Days to a Well-Invested Life RON MOORE

2 FULLY SATISFIED 7 Days to a Well-Invested Life RON MOORE

3 2017 by Ron Moore. All Rights Reserved Published by Back to the Bible 6400 Cornhusker Highway Lincoln, NE No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law. The author has made every effort to trace the ownership of all quotes. In the event of a question arising from the use of a quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary correction in future editions of this book. Scripture quotations marked esv are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ISBN

4 FULLY SATISFIED 7 Days to a Well-Invested Life P eople manage their lives in many different ways. Some govern themselves by the standards of others: They compare their life to family or friends and grade themselves accordingly. Some direct their lives by the standard of society: Their actions mirror culture. And some adhere to a self-managed approach: What seems right at the moment or in a certain situation guides their actions. But how do followers of Christ manage their lives and become fully satisfied? I believe Christfollowers must live their lives directed by the Word of God. Because people with an eternal perspective invest in eternal things. 7 DAYS TO A WELL-INVESTED LIFE 3 4

5 This booklet will help you live a well-invested life in the following ways: 4 Instruction: We will look at what a biblically managed life looks like. 4 Challenge: You will be given space and instruction to take a seven-day challenge. This challenge will help you evaluate where you are and make changes for the life you want. Let s get started. 5 3 FULLY SATISFIED

6 INSTRUCTION W hat does a biblically managed life look like? In order to answer that question, we need to go right to the source. How does God instruct us to live a life guided by His Word? Believers who desire to be directed by Scripture must have an eternal grid through which life circumstances are sifted, conclusions are drawn, and actions are taken. God has placed us on this Earth for a purpose. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). God has put us on a mission! The psalmist prayed, Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12 ESV). We don t have time to waste on trivial 7 DAYS TO A WELL-INVESTED LIFE 3 6

7 matters. People with an eternal perspective invest in eternal things. But here is the challenge the temporal is all we know. We drag ourselves out of bed when the alarm sounds and fall into bed after a busy day. Everything in between sunrise and sunset is measured in time. How can we possibly live with an eternal perspective? Let me offer three things that I believe are critical for developing and maintaining an eternal viewpoint. 1. A person with an eternal perspective understands what it means to be saved. Right after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, I remember reading about Todd Beamer, who was on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. In the article, his wife, Lisa, said, I know he is in heaven. He was saved. I have heard that phrase a thousand times, but that day in that circumstance the truth jumped out at me. It was so definite and simple and yet so full of meaning and significance. Because Beamer had trusted in Jesus as his personal savior, he passed from death to life (John 5:24). The tragic temporal was swallowed up by the glorious eternal. 7 3 FULLY SATISFIED

8 The apostle Paul wrote that God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13 14 ESV). An eternal perspective allows us to live with the realization that although we live in the world, we have been rescued from it. We have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). Living each day in God s marvelous light allows us to see life with an eternal perspective. 2. Believers who live with an eternal perspective understand their citizenship is in heaven. The writer to the Hebrews noted that believers who live by faith live as strangers and exiles on the earth (Hebrews 11:13b ESV). The apostle Paul said it this way: 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. Philippians 3:20 21 ESV 7 DAYS TO A WELL-INVESTED LIFE 3 8

9 When we understand our citizenship is not on this Earth, we hold temporal things loosely. Life is like a layover. We will soon catch another flight home. Our heavenly citizenship was well described in the second century Epistle to Diognetus, V. The writer clearly explained what a person living with an eternal perspective looks like: The distinction between Christians and other men is neither in country nor language nor customs. For they do not dwell in cities in some places of their own, nor do they use any strange variety of dialect yet while living in Greek and barbarian cities, according as each obtained his lot, and following local customs, both in clothing and food and the rest of life, they show forth the wonderful and confessedly strange character of the constitution of their own citizenship. Though they are residents at home in their own countries, their behavior there is more like that of transients; they take their full part as citizens, but they also submit to anything and everything as if they were aliens. For them, any foreign country is a homeland, and any homeland is a foreign country. Michael Cromartie, Resident Aliens, Tabletalk 18.3 (March 1994): FULLY SATISFIED

10 3. Believers who live with an eternal perspective understand that one day they will give an account. Paul wrote these solemn words to all who follow Jesus: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV). The Judgment Seat of Christ does not deal with the believer s salvation or heaven s assurance. Our eternal destiny has already been settled by the work of Christ. At the Judgment Seat of Christ our works will be judged by Jesus to determine our heavenly rewards. The word appear in 2 Corinthians 5:10 does not mean simply to show up. It means to be laid bare and stripped of outward façade. Standing before Jesus, our true character will be revealed. All our actions while on Earth will be open to Christ s scrutiny. This will not be a declaration of doom but an assessment of worth. Based on this just assessment, each of us will receive what is due. As we wait for that day, we must remember Jesus is our spiritual foundation. Our job is to build 7 DAYS TO A WELL-INVESTED LIFE 3 10

11 lasting, eternal things through the strength of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:10 15). So, what are some things that will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ? What are some of the things we can take into eternity with us? The following list is far from exhaustive, but it provides a few examples: 4 Bringing people to Christ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 20 ESV 4 Eagerly awaiting the Second Coming Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 ESV 4 Enduring difficult trials Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 ESV 11 3 FULLY SATISFIED

12 4 Providing faithful Christian leadership So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1 4 ESV Now, you may be thinking, Does it really matter if I get rewards? I m going to be in heaven! You are right; you ll be in heaven. But I believe that attitude is dangerous. We desire to please those we love. We shouldn t say, Well, I m married so it really doesn t matter if I do things that demonstrate a deep love for my spouse. When we love Jesus, we want to do the things that please Him. Because a biblically managed life depends on maintaining an eternal perspective while living in a temporal world, we must consistently examine our lives. The follows pages provide seven areas for self-evaluation. 7 DAYS TO A WELL-INVESTED LIFE 3 12

13 I am asking you to consider one area each day for the next seven days. Read the questions and the Scripture in the morning and then reflect on it throughout the day. I have provided space for you to record your thoughts and the things God tells you FULLY SATISFIED