Lose Yourself in the Moment
Eminem has this song called “Lose Yourself.” Perhaps you’ve heard it before. The song basically has to do with not missing your one opportunity to make something of yourself. In his case his hip-hop abilities. But this concept gets me thinking about the moment. Losing yourself in it.
I recently had a conversation with one of the most spiritually influential people on my life. His name is Brent and we’re in two very different worlds. He on the verge of striking it big as the drummer in his band, very connected to the secular world. And I… well I work for a church in the outer crust of Columbus. Very different worlds and experiences and different approaches to understanding God and our relationship with Him in Jesus.
It was mentioned that Heaven is not the point and Hell is not the point. Read carefully so that you do not read something I am not saying. But, think about how people’s focus is simply on Heaven. On what’s to come. And how presently we must just endure this life until one day we are in Heaven. Or on the other side of it, people live with a fram of mind that is just thankful that they are avoiding Hell. Missing the point. They’ve chosen to point on what is coming or where they aren’t going. Not the moment.
With a focus on the Heavenly encounter we can more easily control our world. We can set up a system or order to how we live out our Christian walk that is very predictable and simple to follow. When this occurs we have great control. Everything is scheduled in and so the need for the work of the unpredictable Spirit of God is rather avoided. We’re comfortable, everything has it’s place. We’ll know that when we die we lived right because we’ll reflict on all of our involvements, services, and studies which have made us feel safe and secure.
On the other hand people can control the way they dwell on the past. Old wounds they keep pulling open to settle in. Always discussing the way things used to be and essentially what happens is people ar avoiding anything that could be going on currently because they are so consumed with what they are avoiding in the eternal sense. What if I constantly talked about how I used to talk this way or that way. Or what if I always focused on the fact that I’m not a heathen. I’m saved and that’s all that matters in life.
Both sides of this coin bring a focus more on ourselves than anything. And in fact develop a level of pride or superiority over another. Either you need to get saved like me or your need to get ahold of your life order like me.
I fear we’ve lost what it means to be like God in the way that He, although has powers beyond my wonder, does not just move us like chess pieces. He grants us the freedom to break His heart any moment of our life. He certainly wants us to want Him more than anything, but there is a point where it’s like we’re in the unpredictable moment. We have a choice.
Jesus certainly understood Heaven and Hell and understood that that wasn’t ultimately the point. There were things going on all around Him. Needs to be met. Not just material, but emotional and especially spiritual. He was atune to the Spirit of God to move and act when He was prompted. He knew what that voice sounded like.
I think about what it would be like if I gave up more control. If I learned more about being in this moment where things could change as quickly as the tide of the sea. To try and sit in that spot would mean there would be somethings that are hard to deal with. Some things that I can’t understand and that I don’t have answers for. There would this sense that I’m not as superior at things as I thought. That there might be some common, simple move that God wants me to make right now.
But I miss it because I’m going Heaven and I’m not going to Hell.
Rhett
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