This weekend, we moved to our new home.  Karyn and I would tease our kittens by telling them "behold, we go to prepare a place for you so that where we are you can be also."  Of course, Lucy and Ethel didn't recognize our spin on Jesus' promise.

As were moving belongings, we could see them sniffing at things and walking around trying to find their familiar surroundings which were gone.  Finally, when the entire move was done, we picked them up and placed them in their carrier.  They meowed and fussed the whole time until we got to our new house.  It was very uncomfortable for them to make the transition.

I was thinking about how my kittens are teaching me about eternity.  I am on the lookout for the familiar.   I am comfortable with my earthly home.  I have not the faintest clue what eternity with God will be like.  I can't imagine it.  At all.  I really have nothing to compare eternity to.  However, God has prepared a place for me and everyone else who accepts Jesus into their life as Savior, letting God's Holy Spirit have complete and absolute leadership.

Now, that we are kinda settled in, Lucy has become quite upset and is hissing and being very unfriendly.  However, Ethel has been quite positive and friendly, wanting extra time being petted and nuzzled.  

I would hope that when I get to heaven, I will be more like Ethel and less like Lucy.  But you never know, Lucy will probably come around.  

Now you may not think that living with a couple of kittens is heavenly but living with kittens can teach you something about how God works.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

I have never lived with cats before.  When we moved to Indianapolis, Karyn wanted to replace our cat that she graciously gave up from our last move.  So, we adopted two kittens that are sisters from the same litter. I always thought that animals didn't have personalities; however, these two are widely different from each other. 

Lucy is a cat that investigates everything and if anything is missing, she is the culprit.

Ethel is a cat that prefers to watch Lucy get into trouble and sit on the sidelines.  (Fitting that their names reflect their personality.)  However, I noticed one thing that is similar about both of them.  They act like they are the center of the universe.  You know the old saying, "Dogs have owners but cats have staff."  That adage seems to run true with Lucy and Ethel.

Funny thing, these cats remind me of my own selfishness.  I can do pretty good and look out for others and try to serve Karyn but eventually, I resort to my old man and think, "I am God."    I can tell you that when I think I'm God, I am not very much like God.    God showed His Love thru sacrificing His Son Jesus.  Jesus showed His Love by emptying Himself of His Godliness and "took the form of a servant (Phil 2:7)."  

So, that is my challenge to you.  Will you join me in putting yourself last?  Know that this is not done by firm resolve.  The only thing that keeps us men from being selfish is connecting with God regularly.  Paul coined the term "I die every day."  A godly man dies to selfishness, pride of life, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes because these are not from God but from the world.   

Are you gonna be a real man?