“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” (Job 8:7 KJV)
Many of us tend to look back over our lives and we say, “I could have done more.” Recently I had a dream where I was a late comer as an activist in the late 1960’s civil rights movement. This made me think of the late 1970’s when I woke up; caused me to revisit a time when I was the first president of a university’s Black Faculty & Staff organization. I only served a few months, leaving the university to pursue a career in human resources. After reflecting on those days, I said, “I could have done more while I had the opportunity.” I believe the Holy Spirit corrected me in three ways. First, He allowed me to look at the good that I had done over the years to have a positive impact on the lives of people. Second, He reminded me of the fact that over the past four and a half years I have ministered way beyond the local church where I serve as pastor, inasmuch as the number of people reached in the universal church via Mark Writes is multi-fold times the number of the Lord’s people that I shepherd face-to-face. Third, He let me take an inventory of the lives of individuals who from a secular perspective were impacted by me and whose levels of success and achievement in their professions outside of church far exceed my attained accomplishments; psychology students who became psychologists, high school mentees that became high-level managers, devoted students who became dentists. Finally, He cause me to look at my own children and how they have had forged successful lives that their children and members of a younger generation will follow. The Holy Spirit reminded me that I have two sons and one daughter licensed or ordained to preach the gospel.
Being cantankerous, I still felt, “I could have done more.” The Holy Spirit canceled my cantankerous attitude, corrected my thinking, and let me know that there is still more to be done, and “could haves” and “should haves” can be outweighed going forward. He let me know I am still here for a purpose.
It’s “Short Monday”, so let me just say to you that you still have some work to be done, and as the case is with me, you are still here for a purpose; God’s purpose, and you still have more to do. Press on my friend! Scale the stairway of righteousness! Climb the mountain of progressive perfection, a never-ending pursuit on this Christian journey. Keep doing great things in the eyes of the Lord in the midst of great adversity and tragedies! Take on Jesus’ frame of mind during His ministry here on earth, as revealed in the closing verse. Yes, one day our nighttime will come, but in the meantime, keep up your kingdom building work, shedding a light of a divine origin. You are the light of the world! If you are plagued by the thought, “I could have done more,” stand corrected and focus on doing more while you can. Be blessed!
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4 KJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King