Contemplation

So much time is wasted on contemplation.  What time do I get up? What do I eat for breakfast? What do I wear today? What will this day have in store for me?  So many questions that occupy our time.  Really there is only one question that really matters when all is said and done.  "Is my heart right with God?"

As I've gotten a bit more "experienced" in life, no longer being able to deny that I am in fact in my 40's, I have learded to be a bit more observant about what is important and what is not.  When we are in school, it's all about who? what? where? when? why? and how?  Who to be seen with, what to be seen wearing, where to be seen wearing what we are supposed to and with who, when will we be seen with who, wearing what we are supposed to at the right place.  Finally the how?  How am I going to pull this off when I am just an adolescent mess!!!!!!

Now in the 40's, and adult in the world, the who? what? where? when? why? and How? should be answered a bit differently if we have actually matured in our spiritual faith walk.  The who is the easy part!  That would be Jesus Christ! Duh! The only opinion that really counts! 

What? Well, that could be approached from many different angles.  I choose to look at it from a navigational viewpoint.  What directs me on my path of spiritual maturity.  Well, I can list certain people who have influenced my walk over the years.  For instance, my parents and grandparents.  All lifelong Christian examples of what Jesus expects of his children.  Not perfect, just forgiven.  Above all else, The Bible is the ultimate and timeless navigational tool to instruct us in every aspect of our lives.

Where? The Lord is omnipresent.  He was and is and is to come.  He is the light in the darkness.  He is my hope when all else fails.  He loves me in the darkest of places that I have strayed to in my life and has always been there to carry me back, clean and made whole, into his loving arms of strength. (Romans 8:1-11)

When?  I need my Savior always.  He is ALWAYS there for me.  Morning, Noon, and Night when I call on his name, he listens.(1John 5:14-15)

Why?  Now that is a tough one.  Why would Christ love someone as undeserving as me?  I am a sinner!  I have been led by evil more than once in my life! I am not worthy!  Ahhh, but He says I am! That is what matters.  He loves me unconditionally and accepts me.  He guides me back when I stray simply because I ask him to.  That's it.  Forgiven and forgotten....... Hebrews 10: 16-18

How? Now that one is easy and only has one answer:  The blood.  Jesus Christ died for me (Mark 15:33-39) and for you and for all who will call on his name, confessing that he is the Son of the Living God, repenting of the old ways and taking on a new life in baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

So when it comes down to it, the only contemplation that matters is "Is my heart right with God?"