For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalms 84:10, RSV

We are at that time of year when people all over the world are beginning to think of making their New Year's Resolutions. Most will be admirable things like losing weight or getting their household budget under control. Some will resolve to get out of debt, others to start an investment plan that will make them rich. More noble still, some will resolve to spend more time with their families, others to shore up the foundations of their marriage in some way.

But the resolve that is really needed begins with the understanding that we are here to serve God. Because of this many people will resolve to attend the worship more, others to read their Bibles more. These are certainly worthwhile goals, and anyone who has ever made such a determination and actually carried it through has experienced the benefits of such a pledge. I would certainly encourage you to have some sort of change in your life, whether at the New Year or any other time of year that your need for renewal is at its peak, for such life changes are indeed important.

But the one caveat that I would add to such a commitment is this: You must first see the need for such a change of lifestyle. This understanding can only fully come about for those who have had a change of heart that is motivated by a love for God. Even beyond that, a person is going to have to feel compelled to make this change - it cannot be a light thing, nor can it be forced. 

It must be genuine!

Such is the message of the passage we read above from the 84th Psalm. It begins with a fuller understanding of perspective than most people will ever possess. The writer understood that being in the presence of God was so superior to any other place that it was literally a thousand times better to him, and that he would willingly trade a thousand days of living the high life apart from God for one day with Him. In fact, he would far prefer being a doorman at the House of God, rather than being inside where the party was going on with the "fun" crowd.

It is this type of mindset that we are going to need if we are ever going to make a resolve that has eternal worth, and it needs to be stressed again that the prompting for this kind of soul-changing event must come from an overwhelming desire to be with God. This was what made David a man after God's own heart, and it was because of this state of the heart that God pulled him from tending the sheep to a position and purpose that is beyond most of our comprehensions.

It was this type of desire to serve that the righteous men and women described in the 11th chapter of Hebrews had. It was an understanding that the temporary pleasures of the physical world were so inferior to the eternal joy and peace of Heaven, that they were willing to suffer any consequences to exchange their earthly realms - no matter how comfortable - for the hard work and even persecutions that would come from their choosing heaven over the world.

People will only make such a decision or have such a heart for God if they are truly and absolutely drawn to serve God in whatever way He desires them to. These are people who have gone way beyond the typical attitude that is so often filled with a reluctance to serve because of the high price it will cost. These are the ones who would happily sell all their possessions just to secure a single pearl because they already determined that no price was too high to obtain such a treasure.

If you and I want to make a resolve to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, we are going to have to be absolutely sold on the reason for why we are doing so. But, once we have the clarity of vision that allows us to see that just a few brief moments with God are immeasurably better than countless days anywhere else, then we will be ready to make a resolution that is actually worth something. And the beauty of such a resolve is this: For those who would rather spend a day with our Lord than a lifetime in revelry with the devil's children, these people will someday find out that instead of a mere day in the Master's court, they will be spending an eternity! And that trading of a carnal perspective for one that is spiritual will make all of the difference in the motivation needed to make a decision that is truly life changing. Do you have what it takes to make such a resolve?