Deadline

I just finished reading the book Deadline by Randy Alcorn. I started it when I was on the plane heading to Italy... but started another book while I was there so only started to read it again since I got back. And the past week I have been in intense book reading mode. All I've been wanting to do is curl in a ball and get lost in a book. I am probably still in that mode... all the things that I am trying to figure out... it's nice to have a distraction.

Deadline is a Christian book. I must say that I adore Christian fiction! It's so nice to read a book with all sorts of morals and values. And that makes you think but not so much that you need to take notes. Because I read Christian study book as well... but they aren't that great of a read on the bus... or really late at night. But a fiction book is very good company in most circumstances.

In Deadline, a man lost two of his best friends in a car accident... one of his friends was a Christian and the other was not. So Randy took me through the journey of this man finding Christ while letting us get a glimpse of his friends eternity. And on this journey we managed to encounter all sort of other pretty heavy topics (as if heaven and hell weren't heavy enough). It talked about abortion, homosexuality, promiscuity, racism, the effects of the media, teen pregnancy, safe sex, the effects of public schools, adultery, individuals with special needs, ethics in the workplace, marriages, family life... ohmygosh! Just looking at the list I am so overwhelmed! Like Randy thought this was the only book he would ever right so he had to put EVERYTHING in it! So of course such a heavy book left thinking about so much... which is exciting for you... MORE BLOGS! hahaha.

The book left me asking myself a lot of questions... most of them pertaining to the way I live my life.. and how that will affect my eternity. I am pretty confident that I am going to heaven... or else I'd be pretty silly to be following this religion! But even when I get to heaven... it's not like everything I have done is going to be erased from my mind. Though I wouldn't mind if a few things were. So I'm wonderinf now how my eternity in heaven is going to be looking. Is God going to say "Well done, good & faithful servant"... or is He going to be like.. "Well.............. would this be a good time to say I told you so?!" And am I storing up earthly treasures or heavenly ones? Is my life all about money and material things and school and my career... all things that will not be following me to heaven! Or is it about encouraging and helping those around me? People are probably the only thing that will be in heaven with me. And it's so easy to get caught up in all the things that life has to offer. And what are other people going to say about me when I'm gone? Will I leave more then just a bank account behind or will I have made a difference to someone? Will I have made an impact... left my mark on this world? I just don't want to wait until it's too late to start living a purposeful life... a life that has meaning... and brings me joy and satisfaction.

Often times when I think about how I need to life more purposefully... I get a little overwhelmed. I think of all the things I need to be doing. And that really only leads to depression! I have to continuously remind myself that I will not be perfect no matter how hard I strive for it... and no matter how many people try to demand it. So I remind myself to take baby steps... especially during moments of self-reflection. But really, all I need to do is use what God has already given me... exactly where I am.

So I am hoping that during this intense decision-making time... I will remember the things that matter. That I will keep my eyes on the important things in life... the things that I can carry on with me to heaven. I'm finished fighting for things that are not real... or will not be with me forever. I'm finished striving for earthly pleasure... I want eternal joy.

Mark 8:35

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

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Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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Matthew 25:20,21

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'