it's okay to cry.

"He did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him." - 1 Samuel 15:35

When was the last time you spent tears to mourn over another's sin?
It seems that men in scripture who spent much time with God, who heard from God, who walked with God, tended to be pretty emotional people. David flooded his bed with tears. Paul had unceasing anguish in his heart. Moses sang. They rejoiced, they delighted, they mourned, they cried, they begged. These and others were emotionally invested in God's glory and God's kingdom. And so anything pertaining in some way to God's glory (either affirming it or ignoring it), pertained to them.

What is our spiritual condition that we have so little emotion reserved for God? It seems like for most people--even the relatively calm--emotions are usually triggered in connection with the things most important to them. So what's the deal with us?

I'm not suggesting that we need to heighten emotionality to enhance our spirituality. I'm merely concerned that, in some cases, complete lack of emotion may indicate complete lack of investment.

When was the last time you spent tears to mourn over another's sin?
When was the last time you spent tears over your own sin--and God's mercy?

because the time is short.

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Dear friends! What will it take to awaken us to the raw fact of our mortality? You may not survive the decade, the year, the month! Your life is not your own, whether you can say that for you to live is Christ or not.

If the thought that tomorrow is not guaranteed does not inspire us, doesn't the knowledge that neither are the lives of those around us guaranteed? If we knew the hour of Christ's return, or the times set for their deaths, what kind of people would we be? Would we wait? Do we really know so little of the joy of life in Christ that we can't be bothered to see it embraced by others until the time is "more appropriate" or more desperate? Do we not already see the glaring signs of desperation and death and depression and disease and defeat and defiance all around us? What are we waiting for?

Dear friends, what will it take to awaken us to the glorious fact of our immortality? This present world is passing away, and do we prostitute ourselves to a vapor? Already our souls have outlived so many things--clothing, furniture, homes...We are not made for this place.

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation" (2 Peter 3:11-15).

Does God's patience, for us, merely mean more time to relax?

"How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride?" ~ Dr. W.E. Sangster

But what to do with that cowardice and pride? We cannot shake them on our own, "But the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives..." (Titus 2:11,12)

May we ever look back to Christ on the cross as we move forward towards Christ on his throne."