To die in process...

In discussion last night with a young Christian woman, we were discussing the whole concept of discipleship. That discipleship is an orientation, by which I mean it is a direction of our spiritual life.  From the moment the concept of God and Christ cross our awareness, we are either moving toward Him or away.  And moving toward Him, following after Him, is being a Disciple.

So even a non-believer, if they are investigating and honestly trying to figure out what they think of this whole God/Jesus thing, should be considered a disciple.  If they decide this is a bunch of bunk and write it off, they no longer are.  (John 6:60-66)

If during a period of time, long or short, a Christian is consumed with themselves, their world, and not following after God but their own desires, they have stopped being a disciple for that time.  When they wake up and turn back, they are again.

In this context, what we are called to do in passages like Titus 2, is simply to walk beside someone as they move further down the road toward Christ.  Start at whatever point you meet them, wherever they are, and share your life with them, ask big questions with them, challenge them to grow as they are moved further down the road with Christ.  For whatever time God gives you to walk beside that person.

With that in mind we landed on the desire to one day be called home "in-process".  Not that we had sat back and decided we were done with the work, propped our feet up and said, Ok, God.  I'm good to go... and wait for Him to take us.  But that we are mid-service, enthusiastically walking that path-- and suddenly find ourselves in the presence of God.

(I know in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul basically gave a benediction to his life "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."  But notice that the last 14 verses of the letter that follow that are littered with administrative details that imply he was still working away.)

I want to be working away at whatever is in front of me, look around realizing I'm now in the presence of my Lord, and exclaim, "Whoa!  What happened??"  And then realize, it just doesn't matter.