| Mission Accomplished - #4317 |
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Tuesday, July 29, 2003After nine-and-one-half months at sea, the men and women of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln were ready to head home. Probably more than ready. And as their long and heroic voyage neared its first port in San Diego, their Commander in Chief landed on the deck of the Lincoln to visit with them, to thank them personally, and to speak to American people from the deck. It was an impressive scene. It was really a moving scene for many. In his speech, surrounded by a multitude of uniformed military personnel, the President announced the end of major combat operations and what he called "the liberation of Iraq." He told the American military, represented by the proud men and women on the deck of the Abraham Lincoln, that "your courage ... has made this day possible." Behind the President loomed the towering bridge of the carrier, with this banner strung across it. On that banner, there was a powerful two-word declaration: "Mission Accomplished." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Mission Accomplished." Some day you'll be heading home. Your time on earth will be over at a time set by your Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ. Will He be flying that banner for you when you reach home? Will He say, "Mission accomplished?" In many ways, that is the ultimate measure of whether your life was a success or not. I know you have a mission. God makes that clear in Ephesians 2:10 when He says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." You have been wired by God, positioned by God, uniquely equipped by God to make a unique difference during your tour of duty here on earth. He never meant for you to be content to just make money, or make grades, or make friends, or make an impression. You're not here to just be a "space taker-upper" - you're here to make a difference! But sadly, it's all too easy to get diverted from the eternal things you're here for into earth-stuff that ultimately doesn't matter much. But it can so easily take over your life and your passion that you waste most of your life serving that earth-stuff rather than carrying out missions from your Commander. Maybe without realizing it, you've gotten detoured into endeavors and relationships that really won't matter in eternity. That's why your life may be very full, but not very fulfilling. It could be that you've tasted living for what really matters, but somehow you got discouraged, or distracted, disillusioned. Well, there's still time to do what you do for Jesus -- to use your influence to point people to Jesus, not to help you get ahead. To see each relationship as a God-given assignment to represent Jesus to that person, and to see what you do every day; not just as a way to make money or have fun, but as a way to bring glory to your Lord and to help some of the people there be in heaven with you. You're going to want your finish line testimony to be that of the Apostle Paul as recorded in 2 Timothy 4:7, our word for today from the Word of God - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." Tell Jesus, "I surrender my gifts to You, Lord ... my passions ... my influence ... my daily activities in all the days of the rest of my life. Please use them for what You put me here to do. I want to be where I was born to be, doing what I born to do. I want to make the greatest possible difference with the rest of my life!" Then, when your tour of duty is over and you finally reach your home in heaven, there will be that banner - "Mission Accomplished." Share or Bookmark This Page       |
