Living for What Matters Forever

The following is an article by Pastor Justin published in the Chadron Record under "Minister's Moments." An audio version of this article can be found at the following link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cbc-devo-living-for-what-matters-forever/id1550004417?i=1000651451557

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As I write this (Wednesday, March 27th), our community is losing two large buildings at the same time: the old Catholic school and an apartment complex. I was planning to write about Easter, but I woke up to a voicemail from a church member saying that their apartment was on fire. As I was on my way to see the fire, I received another message informing me that demolition had begun on the old school. I decided to drive by this crumbling structure as well.
 
Recently, I’ve been reading a book about staying balanced in life by slowing down and spending extended times of solitude with the Lord. The book also talks about the need to break routine and just be “in the moment.” So, rather than simply driving by, I decided to pull over, get out of my car, and watch the demolition of this historic building. As I stood there, I kept thinking, “This has to be one of the largest and oldest buildings in town. This just isn’t something you see every day.”  I also couldn’t help but think of all the memories that many people had growing up in or around that school. In fact, another bystander told me their own stories and while understanding, they were sad to see another piece of their childhood and Chadron’s history gone. However, the overwhelming thought was, “This is exactly why I want an eternal perspective on life. This is why I want to live for that which is going to matter forever.”
 
Just like these two buildings, the temporal things that we live for—even life itself—can be taken from us in an instant. Jesus told a story about a man who once he finally had all he ever wanted, died, and left it all behind. He said, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). The point is if we live for the here and now only, building our own little kingdoms, we’ll have to watch them burn and crumble in the end. Instead, we should view life with an eternal lens and live for God’s kingdom, seeking the inheritance that will never perish nor fade away (1 Peter 1:3-5). As C. T. Studd wrote, there’s “only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”