As I was going about my day, I began to meditate on reality. Stark reality to be precise. The definition of stark is severe, bare in appearance, sharp, distinct, graphic, and on and on. The term stark reality is a term I used as a young adult on occasion and, while on life’s journey, I have experienced stark reality more times than I care to discuss. I will continue to say that stark reality can be a welcoming event but more than likely that is not the case. Matter of a fact, it all depends on what part of your life you are applying it too.

Everyone tends to start out in life learning and reaching for dreams and passions. We tend to have our life planned out before we are old enough or wise enough to understand what it takes to attain those huge life goals. And while we are dreaming, we are unaware of how time is marching on and how fast adulthood approaches upon us until one day reality comes to the forefront of our minds. Did we follow our plans for success, or did we take turns in life that would sabotage them before they were ever set into motion? Thus, stark reality begins to set in.

Life is a funny thing when we reach an age of stark reality. Usually there is more time behind us than before us. We begin at this point to consider all the choices we made in life that seemed perfectly harmless at the time, and maybe even fun. Oh, but how wisdom tends to show up when it seems too late. I mean youth is wasted on young people, right? When we become wise, our youth is usually already gone. That doesn’t seem fair now does it? The thing is that God is all seeing and all wise. He does not look upon life as we do. Remember, He said “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55; 8, 9).

God knows that we enter into this world in sin. We have a sinful nature that until He begins to draw us unto Himself, we will do that which pleases the flesh. That is just how it is. We must first be drawn away from the cares of life and it takes longer for some of us than others. Not that one person is necessarily wiser, we all are reared in different lifestyles and different rules and morals set by parents of that nature, as well as those that influence us through our younger years, or surely because of our own degree of hardheadedness! Everyone walks a different path in life and many have more heartache from the choices we have made. The most important thing for all to remember however, is that God is a perfect father. He loves us all the same and no matter what point in life, or age, that we come to Him, we get the same pay at the end of the day. (Matthew 20: 1-16) God is faithful to all and is no respecter of person in His love towards us.

I suppose the point of my blog is to bring to light that sometimes people have to come to a realization that this life never fulfills the longing inside our hearts. I believe God allows us to wander in life and even watches us suffer trials and tribulations that were not necessary except for the fact that we chose not to listen to sound advice. I am your witness once again. Now that is not to say that we do not suffer through things that are not totally our faults for the bible does also say that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) We however, add to those unforeseen problems of life that could be avoided if only we chose to do those things right and not those convenient. I speak of myself.

God wants us to live a life of abundance with Him, and through Him. (John 10:10) My friend, I would that you give the Lord opportunity in your life to show Himself true and alive because He is very much both. His whole purpose is to bring us to a place of our intended purpose which is to love Him with all our hearts, and with all our minds, and with all our souls. (Matthew 22:37) It is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1) for one reason, and one reason only, for that is how He loves us. He doesn’t expect anything from us that He is not more than willing and even pleased to the uttermost to bestow upon us. It is an unending, undying love that will carry us over into eternity where all things unlike God and things never meant for us will not be allowed to enter. He said it is not for the swift nor for the strong but for those who endure unto the end (Ecclesiastes 9:11). The time it takes for His will to be fulfilled on earth is the time we must endure. Why? Because there are spiritual battles to be fought for the souls that have not yet come unto Him and the battles on our behalf that we, at times, never see. There are reasons, I am convinced, that we will never understand until we cross Jordan. God knows what He is doing and the time it takes for it to be done but He also tells us that the battle is not ours but His (2 Chronicles 20:15). We are to stand still and trust Him (Exodus 14:13). Today is the day of salvation! (2 Corinthians 6:2) Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalms 34:8) Won’t you please, Come and dine! (John 21:12)

Amen and Amen.