A few weeks ago, I moved… again. As an itinerant pastor, I have moved numerous times, and though I no longer pastor a church, I am pretty sure I will move again. There was nothing special about this one. We reserved a big moving truck, went through all our things, threw a lot away, gave to charity, and packed all we could into boxes. Eventually, we loaded everything onto the truck, drove to our destination, unloaded, and began the unpacking process into our new home.
PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL
This may sound routine, even pedestrian, but in reality there is more to moving than one might think. Moving is hard work, of course, but there are other factors that go into the "success" of a move. A move works really well if you take the time and effort to prepare before you start up the truck. If you are ready, all will likely go well; if not, the move will be much more difficult, even potentially a disaster.
FREE MOVING TIPS
Since I have established myself as an expert mover, allow me to share a few "moving tips" I have learned over the years:
- Go for Quality — Get good, sturdy boxes.
- Be Careful — Take time to pack carefully; wrap breakables, make sure things "fit" together well, and don't overload the boxes.
- Label — Make sure to label your boxes, you will not remember what is in each one tomorrow.
- Pack It In — Don't just load the truck, pack the truck. Load your things like you are putting a puzzle together.
I've learned much more about moving over the years, but the point is, taking time to prepare helps ensure a successful move.
ONE FINAL MOVE
I don't know how many more times I will move, but I know I have at least one more move in me— everyone does. One day, I will move from this life into eternity. One day, I will move from this world to the place where I will stand before Jesus. The success of that move will be determined before we ever take the first step across "the great divide."
The key to our journey and arrival lies in what we do with this time of preparation we call life. There is a traditional Hymn called, Take Time to be Holy. Its words advise us to,
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Our last move will be the move, the one that matters most. This is the move we must be ready for, and our preparation is crucial. To know Jesus, experience His saving grace, be disciplined in prayer, learn and live His Word, grow in intimacy with Him, and serve Him in faithful obedience in everything, these are the things which make the journey sweet and the move secure.
by Jimmy Aycock