Time

I finally have a time of rest.  Two weeks of tests and projects are done, and I get at least a day to relax.  Having said that, I realize that my "busy" is trivial compared to others (i.e. anyone married, working, or raising children).  I have been blessed with time.  My schoolwork is certainly not trivial, but at this point in my life I don't have the constraints that others do/I will later.  My conviction then is to use this time that I have for the glory of God, for "to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48).  It stands to reason that properly giving of the resources that I have now (limited funds, much time), will translate into proper giving of the resources that I will have in the future (more funds, less time).

This train of thought has led me to contemplating Christian endurance.  As Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside our weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."  Pursuing Christ takes patience.  Not just in individuals' lives, but as a church body, endurance is desperately needed.  I recently read a blog that talked about tradition, especially in western evangelical churches.  It dawned on me that I couldn't think of any older church bodies (150+ years) that exist.  That's pathetic.  We belong to a universal church, so the church body is always present, but the local church is and will be the agent of reform in the world (Acts 2:42-47). How can we expect to show Christ to the rest of the world if church bodies only exist for a generation?

Of all the subjects that I could discuss, I think this is one of the hardest for my generation and age group.  When I think of showing Christ to the city of Raleigh, some practical steps I can think of are tutoring a student at Hunter Elementary or the Raleigh Boys' Club, or living in the communities that need holy transformation.  The problem is, I want to see these actions take place and have immediate results.  I want all of us at Vintage 21 (jointly, with the entire fellowship of believers in Raleigh) to become a servant to the city, and to help transform the city by putting Christ first.  To do this, however, requires commitment and patience.  To show the perfect and loving Father to Raleigh is a lifetime commitment.  In fact, it should be more.  There needs to be a church body actively pursuing Christ for generations.  If I and my fellow 18-24 year old peers are honest, this is one of the hardest things to deal with.  It fills me with anxiety and frustration, because I want it done NOW.  That is why I need to pray desperately for endurance.  I know that the attributes of my age group are to be passionate and impetuous, but that is not a bad thing.  The tragedy is when we burn ourselves out and then lose the passion to run the race.  I NEVER want to lose this passion, but I pray that God will instill me with patience to commit my life to Christ-like transformation.


God truly can change a city.  He can bring about social transformation the world has never seen and couldn't even imagine, but we are naive if we think that that will happen through us working with any certain group while we're in college.  I pray fervently that this city will be changed through Christ, and that the followers of Christ will pursue that end for centuries to come.  We have time.  We don't know how the world will change, or what will happen in each of our lives, but we all have a lifetime to give to the pursuit of Christ.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." -Romans 9:24