From the Pastor's Study

By Pastor Paul Iwata

My son and I had a wonderful time in Colorado during this past week. We stayed with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Jena, Dwayne, and 3-year-old Evan, in their home that is located in a new housing development just 20-25 minutes northwest of Denver. While taking in the tastes and sights of the quaint town of Boulder that is lies along side the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, we enjoyed our time with them. We rented an car and droved to the World War II Museum of Aviation in Colorado Springs around two hours by freeway to the south of where we stayed.

The culture of Colorado is quite different from Los Angeles, racially mono-color, and economically, middle to upper middle and up-scale in income and tastes. People in Boulder love the outdoors as can seen by the many stores that cater to hikers, campers, bicyclists, and nature lovers in general.

We observed people enjoying life to the fullest as God has granted them vigor, vitality, and strength. The thinner air of the high elevation doesn’t slow them down. The trails in the nearby open areas and mountains were used well by people on foot and on bicycle. There was one young man who ran by us down a mountain trail wearing only pair of running trunks in nearly freezing temperatures! Wow, I remember in my youth experiencing that sense of invincibility. However, it is only for just a passing season of one’s youth.

In my processing over my wife’s passing in February, when finding myself confronted by the natural course and end of our life here on earth, I have reached an understanding that any thoughts of the future, particularly relating to the eventual course of life for most people, should always be overshadowed by promise and reality of Jesus being with us and even in us in whatever the future holds for each one of us. He said, “I will never leave nor forsake you,” and “Behold, I will be with even to the end of the age” (Heb. 13:5b; Matt. 28:20). He’ll take care of our future.

The Lord’s wants us to be fully engaged in living fully for Him in the present moment for the sake of serving others with kingdom love and truth. For even one moment, any anxious thoughts about the future or our future of our life here should not rob us from being fully present for God and others! God will take care of the future, even tomorrow, for Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself,” but instead to “Seek first His kingdom and righteousness” and concerns pertaining to tomorrow will take care of themselves (Matt. 6:33-34).