(BP?) Deadline

Done with an important deadline last week, after conscripted my friends’ room for a few working nights, and received a ton of support along with timely help upon my last-minute unreasonable requests that almost made me dislike myself.

Life has countless deadlines since we enter kindergarten. Homework, projects, different submission, etc. Almost every stage there would be deadlines set before us, come with implicit warning that we would be kicked out if we can't meet them. Day by day, our schedule and priority are more or less driven by deadlines. As deadlines come one after another, we get so caught up and consumed that sometimes we even forget about the final deadline (though it’s more like a transition to His eternal kingdom) awaiting for every of us.

Recently was talking with a friend about the work-hard-play-hard culture. We find it interesting because it assumes life should always be on a hyper mode, either work or play, but not much of time to simply chill and reflect on what was happening in life. Amidst the flowing streams of deadlines and the lack of quiet time, it is so easy to lose focus to live a life that would lead to no big regret on the final deadline.

He already gives us an instruction, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) Not lose focus on the final deadline does not mean to neglect all the so-called secular things we ought to do. Quite the contrary, how to transform our heart to consider everything, big and small duties or responsibilities, as entrusted by Him, and as an occasion to worship Him in our life. The behaviours can look like exactly the same regardless of whether we are doing it for Jesus or for ourselves, like studying for 10 hours for an exam, or work overtime to get a task done. But what makes the difference is something intangible, something deeper, the intention in our heart.

And all these should be done out of the love from Him and to Him. To learn to love God by caring about what He cares, and to seek to understand His heart.

Along with that instruction that requires a lifelong learning, Jesus also gives his precious promise, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) A healthy and sustainable relationship is always interactive, so does our relationship with Jesus. He never sends us out to wrestle to be faithful yet without giving grace. And ultimately, it is a precious grace to learn to rest in Him in a restful spirit, even amidst hectic schedules and overwhelming workloads. For this is the time we learn to really lean on Him as a shepherd and comforter; for this is the time we truly experience Him as our rock, our fortress, our strength and our salvation that we can take refuge.

For at the end of the day, it is not about how many things we have done that pleases His heart the most, but a heart to seek Him, to love Him and to cherish the intimacy with Him over everything else.