Americans celebrate Labor Day the first Monday in September to honor the energy, effort, and enthusiasm of the will and determination of the American worker. The holiday is meant to pay tribute to hard-working men, women, and children, who, during the Industrial Revolution worked 12-hour days, seven days a week. I have known it as the American spirit; a willingness and determination to tackle the difficult tasks without giving up until the task was completed.
Through the years, such a determination has shifted to include those willing to devote long hours to develop ways to rip-off innocent people by stealing any and everything they can. Sadly, this mindset is permeating the very fiber of the American way of life. The millions, even billions of dollars of damaged or destroyed properties and possessions of fellow Americans is a disgrace to what Labor Day stands for.
I bring this up because the Bible, in the New Testament, speaks about a point in time when humanity cares only about himself or herself. Doing right means whatever is beneficial to me. If someone else’s property is destroyed because of something I did, it is all right, as long as it benefits me. I suppose even sadder, is the fact that elected officials are taking the side of those who do such things.
To be sure, there is a natural giving and taking in life. The long difficult work of early laboring men and women meant food on the table, clothes on the back, and a roof over the head. Even though it was certainly not ideal, it was mutually beneficial, even if greedy industrialists took advantage of these men and women—even children.
The focus of this blog, as well as this website, is a journey (usually most unexpected) to a close personal relationship with the godhead. The heart and attitude of the early American worker for whom Labor Day is celebrated echoes the heart and attitude of a Christ-follower on this incredible journey.
There is sacrifice—a lot of sacrifices—involved. Your will and way, give way to God’s will and way for your life. You benefit, by discovering a life-changing relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You also benefit by a beyond comprehension eternal life with the godhead.
On the other hand, a gracious loving God benefits by seeing humanity restored to their original intent, for all eternity. It is a win-win situation, despite the sacrifices made along the way. Unlike greedy industrialists, God will never exploit, abuse, or mistreat you in the journey.
In the New Testament book of Mark, Jesus tells his disciples that anyone who takes such a journey will find multiple blessings (as well as much persecution) along the way, plus eternal life.
This unexpected journey to a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is beyond challenging, but equally beyond benefits, both now and in the eternal life to come.