THE BUCKET LIST

THE BUCKET LIST

There seems to be a great insurgence of referrals to; The Bucket List.  Advertisements on Yahoo, MSN, Fox, FaceBook and Sunday it was on the front cover of Parade Magazine inside the newspaper.  Now all of this whoopla is to encourage us to complete our bucket list.  The bucket list consist of those wild throw all caution to the wind adventures that we all dare to dream about doing, self seeking thrills which get the adrenaline pumping or places that give you the awe factor of serenity. 

Several years ago there was a movie called, The Bucket List.  The movie was centered on two older men who were roommates in the cancer ward at a hospital.  These two unlikely men struck up a friendship at deaths door and decided together they would help each other fulfill their “bucket list”.  Together they set off on an adventure to bring fulfillment to their life before they "kicked the bucket".

Tim McGraw sings a song called; Live Like Your Dying.  Here are a few lines from that “bucket list” song:

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
"That most the time I wasn’t.
"An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
"Wasn’t such an imposition,
"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look,
"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,

Now I have to admit, I would like to try out a few of those adventures and all of us would do well to; love deeper, speak sweeter, forgive, and be the kind of spouse we should be!

What moved me to thinking about all of this is; I have never heard anyone mention they have a “spiritual bucket list”.  A list of adventures, dreams, goals that they want to complete for the Kingdom, before the coming of our King.  Can you imagine what that list might look like!  What one person, empowered by God could do if their mission in life was to fulfill their “spiritual bucket list”?  But you know this is such as Holy thing I feel ashamed to call it a “spiritual bucket list”, it makes this calling of the Lord feel cheap and unworthy of a Most Holy God who is worthy of all praise and adoration.  Isaiah caught a mere glimpse of this Most Holy God and he was awe struck with the revelation of what a sinful man he was. Isaiah was completely undone.

Isaiah 6:1-7(NKJV)
In the year that King Uzi died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one cried to another and said:      “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;     The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.  So I said:      “Woe is me, for I am undone!     Because I am a man of unclean lips,     And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;     For my eyes have seen the King,     The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth with it, and said:      “Behold, this has touched your lips;     Your iniquity is taken away,     And your sin purged.”

God is so good, He has a way to cleanse us and use us for the sake of the Kingdom!  In verse 8 Isaiah is consumed with the chance to be used by the Lord.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:      “Whom shall I send,     And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

We as God’s people have been given a clarion call, The Great Commission.  Just as Isaiah was commissioned to speak to the people of his day, we also as God’s people have a commission to fulfill to the people of our day that should outweigh any extravagant - high adventure, self-seeking physical “bucket list”.

Matthew 28:18-20(NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:15-18(NKJV)
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

One day I must stand before my King, the King of kings, the Lord Almighty and give account of my life.  The Book of Remembrance will be opened.  

Malachi 3:16(NKJV)
    Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,      And the Lord listened and heard them;     So a book of remembrance was written before Him     For those who fear the Lord     And who meditate on His name.

Revelation 22:12(NKJV)
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. 

Lord Jesus help us have a glimpse of who you are, just as Isaiah did.  May we recognize how holy You truly are and give You all the reverence, honor and glory You are due.  Cleanse our lips, purify our hearts …Lord here  am I, send me ~ empower me ~ enable me ~ to fulfill exactly what You desire ~ for the Kingdom of God.

Revelation 5:11-13(NKJV)
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice:      “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain     To receive power and riches and wisdom,     And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:      “Blessing and honor and glory and power     Be to Him who sits on the throne,     And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

I have experienced just about every phase of life now.  I wish I could say; I gave my utmost for His Highest every day. 

I have much I must do yet for the Kingdom of God, I wasted many years.

Reflecting back over the last few years, something unexpected has transpired.  I am dreaming very big, I never planned on writing a book but I did (wow God really can do anything).  Now what can be done with this tool full of the Word of God, focused on creating and establishing unshakeable marriages? 

If a marriage can be changed to be a reflection of Jesus Christ and his bride, then…a family can be changed.  If a family can be changed, then…a neighborhood can be changed.  If a neighborhood can be changed, then…a city can be changed.  If a city can be changed, then… a state can be changed.  If a state can be changed, then… a nation can be changed! Let’s dream big people of God…what can we do for our King?

Revelation 22:13-17(NKJV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.