Elevate10 Camp

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Coming back from Elevate10 Camp, it's SO GOOD to know that many of the youths are reawakening to the state of relationship they are in with God. I really thank God for this year's camp cos it's just... different. There were many understandings that were redefined.

Camp was not about hype anymore. Ahh! So thankful to God that this year's message was authentic, real and brutally honest. Life in Christ is more than good music, fun, good friends - though those are not entirely excluded. But they are definitely not the main focus of life in Christ.

But here is what life in Christ is: Apostle Paul puts it plainly in Phillipians, for him "to live is Christ and to die is gain". I cannot say that I fully understand these deep words yet, but I'm getting there (hopefully by His grace!), because I do not want to miss out on the life of the eternity.

James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Life is like vapor. No... life is equivalent to vapor! I think this session spoke most to me. How short life really is. What am I doing with this life? And what is life really about?

Am I striving to please men and seek their approval in order to get my way to the top, and be somehow, successful in the world's eyes? Or am I willing to be living according to the upside down rules of God and not of the world to please Him, and be significant in the eyes of my Father?

The Bible says in Matthew 5; blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers. But as long as we live in this world (which belongs to the ruler of the air), the poor in spirit will be scorned, those who mourn will be ridiculed, those who are meek will be crushed, the pure in heart will be taken advantage of, and the peacemakers will be casualties.

Am I willing to really lay everything aside to walk on the narrow path? Am I willing to die to myself to follow Christ?

I have so much to think about now, Lord. Everyone has to come to point of decision..

I stand in awe of Your grace that You have revealed Your kindness to me when I do not deserve it in the least.

Matthew 7:13-27

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Matthew 7:13-27

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never know you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

*****

I thought I understood this passage years ago. How wrong and blind can I possibly be??!!

I have just come to understand each and every word that Jesus had meant here; I'm just like those crowd of people, honestly amazed at His teaching. Jesus had been brutally honest about what He said from the start. And everything connects... Everything (above) connects.

I'm in awe of God's truth.