This life is a warm-up for the next life. Don’t expand all your energy here or be too concerned about it. It’s not the real game.

I was playing tennis with a 20-something buddy of mine yesterday. We hit around for 30 minutes and then we decided to play a set. But by the time we got to playing the game, I was already tired because I expanded all my energy in the warm-up! Warm-ups are exactly that. It’s a preparation for the real game.

So is this life. Don’t treat it so seriously. Don’t hold onto things or people so tightly. Don’t be so concerned about where you live, where you work, who you are married to, or how your children are doing, etc.

Yes, in one sense, we are to make every minute count and run the race diligently. That is when it concerns prizing Jesus and helping others to treasure Him, for that is the most important thing.

But in another sense, when it comes to LESS important things, such as family, job, finances, health, don’t be too concerned. Don’t care so much!

1 Cor. 7:29, “This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no good, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.”

You see that all those things we consider are the most important are just warm-ups, don’t you?

– Marriage is a warm-up to the real marriage with our Bridegroom in Jesus.
– Raising children is a warm-up to understanding the Father’s heart toward His children, which are us.
– Finances or lack thereof, is a warm-up to the riches and abundance we will inherit through Jesus.
– Deteriorating health (which I was reminded of when I was playing tennis) is a reminder that we will receive a new body full of joy and eternal health in God.

Don’t hold onto these things like your life depends on them. Your life (eternal life) only depends on Christ.

Treasure Him most.

See you guys in church!

PH