Today you’ve probably worried about a lot of things. You’ve spent a lot time doing a lot of things. You’ve planned and thought through . . . a lot of things. But – in light of eternity – does any of it really matter?
Will you even be remembered – by anyone – anywhere - a hundred years from now? Probably not.
Life is short. Really short. And so much of what we’re involved with in this short life just doesn’t matter.
What does matter – is a steady, faithful walk with God and doing his will each day. In big ways and small ways, what we do in and through Jesus will last forever.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 19 that describes how we should be living our lives. It’s the story of a nobleman, leaving on a trip, who gave a mina (a unit of money) to ten different servants. The servants were expected to take the money and multiply it. One servant made ten more minas with his money. Another made five. Another did nothing with his money except return it to his master when he returned from the trip. The servant who made ten minas was then put in charge of ten cities. The man who made five was given authority over five cities. The third man was condemned for his failure to do anything with what he had been given. The point is simple: we need to invest what God has given us and make something of it. It might be a talent, a skill, a spiritual gift or just the time we’re given each day.
When we use our talents wisely and produce something with them, God rewards us. 1 Corinthians 15:58b states, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Serving the Lord is never pointless or unproductive.
Much of our time, energy and effort in this life is spent – largely – on worthless pursuits. Things that just don’t matter. We need to focus on eternity, knowing that we will live with the Lord forever. Missionary Jim Elliott captured this idea so well when he, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see this. Most of the things we accumulate in this life will be left behind when we die. Why not use our possessions, money and time to invest in things that will be with us forever.
We simply must keep our eye on the sky! I love this quote from 19th century London preacher Charles Spurgeon. “Here is the history of the grass – sown, grown, blown, mown, gone; and the history of man is not much more.” Because life is so uncertain and so short, we need to make every effort to use our time to serve the Lord.
Scripture exhorts the believer to remember that one day he will be held accountable for how he has lived his life. 2 Corinthians 5:10 states, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” In a similar vein Romans 2:5-6 warns” “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’”
American statesman Daniel Webster was once asked, “What’s the most sobering thought to ever enter your mind?” His reply was short and to the point: “My personal accountability before God.”
If there is a God, life is serious.
We should all take to heart the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Colossians 3:1-4: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
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