Once again inspired by the words of Mike Donehey, I’d like to share with you another thought. And maybe I should start by asking a question.
What are you working for? I mean, when you think about the process of life, about the journey you’ve made thus far, and the road you still have to travel, the accomplishments, milestones, recognition, money, whatever it is you accumulate along the way — when you get past all these things, what is at the end of it? What awaits you as a reward for your long, arduous journey? I’ll tell you. A stone in the ground, surrounded by dozens of others, commemorating those who thought they’d earned as much as you, worked as hard as you, shed as many tears as you. Maybe they did. But for all of them, the same end to the world they’ve known waits.
I don’t want to depress you, but rather put things into perspective. As a Christian, I don’t have to look at anything in this life as the goal — I’m just passing through. But maybe you don’t have that same perspective. So what is it exactly that you’re working toward? Are you tearing yourself apart, pouring out your blood, sweat and tears, for a future that will die with you? We all end up in the ground sooner or later. I think it’s healthy to remember that.
And what about me, what’s my perspective? You may very well ask that, and I’ll tell you gladly. Because I know that a hole in the dirt isn’t really what awaits me. As Lewis put it, “You don’t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body.” And while my decaying flesh will certainly be left behind, I know I won’t be with it. My reward is an eternal one, and that’s what I’m working toward. Every drop of sweat that falls from me ought to be made through exertion for my King, knowing that it is He that I’m working for.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Matthew 6:19-21
Whatever you treasure most, with that thing will your heart be found. I don’t want my heart to be with money that burns, toys that break, the flesh that grows old and dies; all these temporary things that try to grab hold of us and keep our attention focused inward. When we dwell on ourselves and what we want, we are never satisfied. But when we look outward, and act according to love for others, and love for God, every tiny deed becomes a treasure. If you don’t believe me, go out and try it.
I don’t want to leave a legacy, I don’t want people holding onto a memory of the past, of who I was or what I did. I want people to know who God is, today and forevermore. When people think of me, I only want it to be long enough to remind them of the King I serve, to get them to concentrate on Him. That is why I exist: to give glory to God, and to teach others to do the same.
“All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:20
Remember your end, O man. Remember to where you go.
— Joel