“Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
WITHIN 10 years from now, much of what you devoted your life to may have little significance left. The causes you championed, the successes you pursued, the recognition and importance you sought, and everything you had achieved may eventually become nothing more than fading memories of who you were before.
Only a few leave contributions so significant that generations continue to remember them. But what about ordinary people like most of us? Will the causes we lived for, the achievements we celebrated, and the things we worked so hard to attain be remembered as worthy pursuits? And even if they are remembered, will they have any significance beyond this lifetime?
This truth is not far-fetched. Take a moment to examine your own life just one year ago. What did you do then that still matters today in the light of eternity? Now, think back ten years ago. What lasting significance does your pursuits have today? Did they make any difference to your eternal account? Or would you count all of it now as wasted years, just chasing the wind?
These are uncomfortable questions, but they are exactly the questions you need to ask today.
ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST
Life is a precious gift, but it is also a passing journey. The years come and go, opportunities appear and disappear, and one day, your possessions, positions, achievements, and earthly recognition may impress people (and perhaps give you your fifteen minutes of fame), but none of these guarantee a lasting legacy.
So, how do you change the trajectory of your eternity?
The answer is not found in how much you have accumulated, or how many people knew your name. It is found in how faithfully you have lived for the Lord, how sincerely you have pursued His purposes, and how much of your life was invested in things that matter to eternity.
The Bible reminds us:
* Matthew 6:19–20 – Jesus teaches us “..not to store up treasures on earth, but to lay up treasures in heaven”. Thus, this world is not where you should invest everything you have. Earthly treasures are temporary, but heavenly treasures endure.
* 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “…your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Thus, your labor must not be done to please people but must be done firstly for and to serve the Lord. Any work done faithfully for Christ is never wasted, even when the world fails to recognize it.
* 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “…the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Thus, if you spend your entire life pursuing only what is visible, and temporary, you will risk missing what is invisible, everlasting, and truly valuable.
* Colossians 3:23–24 – “Whatever we do, we should do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men.” Thus, when human recognition is your motivation, you lose the greater purpose of your existence. Your ultimate judge is God who sees your heart behind everything you do.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy is not that your life is short, but that you could actually spend your entire life pursuing things that have no lasting impact and significance in eternity.
When Alexander the Great died, he instructed that during his funeral procession, both his hands be left dangling outside his coffin. The symbolism was clear: despite all his conquests, wealth, and power, he would leave this world empty-handed, just as he had entered it also empty-handed.
Its message is worth remembering: You may spend a lifetime gaining the world, only to discover that in the end you cannot take even a little bit of it with you.
Life is not measured merely by the years you have lived, but by the eternal difference you have made through the years God has given you.
So, while there is still time, live purposefully, love generously, serve faithfully, and walk humbly with your Lord. Do not wait until the end of your life to discover that you have spent your most precious years on things that easily perish and do not last till eternity.
A QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
If your life were to end today, what would remain that has eternal value? And when you finally stand before the Lord, will the life you have lived reflect what truly mattered to Him?/PN
