It’s nice and relaxing to sit back and close our eyes and let the words of John come to life in our minds as he describes that great City.  We look around and see the great and high wall which is made of jasper.  In fact, the whole city is pure gold like unto clear glass.  The foundations of the wall are garnished with all manner of precious stones.  We notice that there are twelve gates and they are all pearls.  What a beautiful, pure river that flows from the throne of God!  And finally we look down and to our delight, the streets are pure gold.  That’s right, not just paved with gold, but they ARE pure gold.  What a beautiful City that He has prepared for us!   Heaven is going to be wonderful!

However, eventually we have to open our eyes again and realize that we are still here.  The trumpet of the Lord has not sounded yet.  We haven’t been raptured away to be with Him.  We aren’t yet walking on streets of gold; no, we are still walking on asphalt.

Ever feel discouraged?  Ever feel like giving up?  Like just throwing in the towel?   Ever feel like you just aren’t making a difference?  Everything you are doing is in vain?  Can’t get anything going in your church?  Like no one is listening to what you are saying?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, don’t worry.  You are not a bad minister.  You haven’t failed the test.  In fact, you are not alone.  There are many ministers of the Gospel just like you who are in the same boat.  Frustrations of everyday life, disappointments in the ministry, and many more of these negative feelings abound.

We do not claim to have reached perfection yet.  We have not acquired our glorified bodies yet.  We are still human.  We are still going to make mistakes.  We are still going to make wrong decisions.  In fact, we are still going to fall down from time to time.  Sometimes as a minister or spiritual leader we think that we are the exception to the rule.  That to be a great leader we cannot make mistakes.  We believe, if we do make a mistake or a bad decision that we will be looked on as a failure.  We beat ourselves up over making these mistakes almost to the point of giving up.  Don’t give up! 

Keep getting back up!  One of the most frequently quoted scriptures is Micah 7:8, which happens to be one of my favorite verses:

                “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”

Notice that the prophet wrote when and not if I fall or sit in darkness.  Things will happen.  Life happens.  Mistakes will be made.  We will make wrong decisions every now and then.  We have to be rooted and grounded enough that whenever these things do happen we will have enough resiliency  to get back up and keep fighting.   In fact, when those in the congregation know that you have gone through a hard trial in your life and were able to get back up again, it will motivate and encourage them to do the same.

Because we have to keep in mind that not only are we “still walking on asphalt,” but so are the members of the congregation.  They will make mistakes.  They will sin.  The singers and musicians will stumble and fall.  The leaders on your team will as well.  Sunday school teachers, Bible study teachers, outreach directors, choir leaders, sound technicians,  and anyone who has flesh wrapped around them will sin.  When, and not if, these things do happen, we have to deal with them in love.  We have to care for them gently.  We have to help them get back up again.  They know that they have made a mistake and we are to deal with them appropriately.  We have to choose our words carefully and with wisdom.  Solomon wrote:

                “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

 Pray for God to use you and to speak through you. Always keep in mind how Jesus dealt with sinners.  He dealt with them with compassion and loving kindness.  Our goal is to strive to be more like Him.

Keep holding on.  Soon and very soon, we will be walking on streets of gold.