Saturday go to meetin'

6:26 p.m. Today's project was to go to two meetings in Redlands, on a Saturday, no less. Since our first appointment was with my dad and sister at noon, I kept resetting my cell phone alarm from 7 :00, when Steve put the dogs out, to 8:30 eventually, when we absolutely had to get up. When you enjoy your leisurely Saturdays like we do, we definitely needed 3 hours to get out the door!

(Meeting number two was at Kimberly Crest later that afternoon to discuss wedding details).

My sister Dona and my niece Destiny seldom come up from San Diego, so this occasion--looking over my dad's living trust together--made for a reason to do a little potluck. She brought a potato-ham casserole and Boston Cream Pie cupcakes, and I filled in with salad and home picked greens and broccoli from my garden.

Daddy pointed out important points for Dona and Destiny that he and I had gone over in the past. I was present at the attorney's office for the signing of the trust; I become Trustee at my father's death; my sister is the alternate; her daughter (the oldest granddaughter) is next alternate. Since the document is familiar to me, and my responsibilities clear, I had no questions. Frankly and simply put, I am to carry out Daddy's intentions word for word. His wishes are a testament to his desire to provide an estate for his inheritors.

None of it goes into force until the testator dies. Daddy is the Trustee of his own trust, and is handling his matters wisely and well! But no human being lives forever...

Hebrews 9:16-17 say, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives."

As believers, we have a testament that clearly lays out our inheritance. We have the New Testament, written in the blood of our Savior! We find a comparison of old and new testaments in Hebrews Chapter 9. The old cleansing of sin through animal sacrifice (v. 12) has been replaced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God the Son. Verses 13-14 ask,

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Verse 15 continues,

"And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

The blood of Jesus Christ paid for our sins so we might have eternal life! I thank the Lord every day for my salvation! Can you thank him for His saving grace? Are you born again?

The terms of a human testament can be changed either on a whim of the testator, or for serious cause, like the death of one of the inheritors. But I need not worry about God changing the terms of my salvation, ever. As Psalm 33:11 assures me,

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.