What Really Matters
Recently, the temporary nature of life here on earth has struck a chord deep within me. I realize now that I am almost one fourth of the way through my life, and that I have totally lost sight of what matters. In fact, I have become so swept up in this world and its decadence, that I have ignored the fact that there is something more.
If one does not believe in absolutes, one still must acknowledge one universal truth: you will die. No amount of money, fame, or good deeds will save anyone from this constant fate. What lies beyond this life, while impossible for anyone to logically prove exists, is what really matters.
I believe, as most people who really reflect inwardly do, that there is a soul - a being that is my real self – that lives within this body. I believe that God has given me custody of this body as a shell to allow my spirit to live in this temporal world. However, this body has an expiration date. At best, I will have another sixty years living in it. After that, I believe that my soul will continue to exist – eternally.
The residence of my soul after my body releases it is dependent on one decision I make while I inhabit it. I can choose to live in unspeakable glory worshiping the God of all creation, or I can choose to be eternally separated from the wonderful Master of the universe. The choice I make is acceptance.
God has already redeemed me. "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2: 4-7 It is my decision to accept this wonderful forgiveness. "For by grace you have been saved… and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 By simply accepting this wonderful redemption, I have secured my soul's residence in the eternal kingdom of the Father.
Now that I have a reserved seat in paradise, should I just go back to my life as usual? The answer to this is an obvious, and resounding, no. Now that I know what really matters - that I am an eternal being destined to live out life everlasting with God Almighty - I am a new creation. Now living for the pleasures of this world seems trivial next to the wonderful promise I have in Him. I now live for the glory of my Lord. There is no greater thing than living for His kingdom. Being created to glorify God, the ultimate fulfillment in life comes from just that; and the way to glorify Him best is to live out your life for Him. After all, I am about to live out eternity with God Almighty! Why not get started now?
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Philippians 3:20,21