I watched a video last night, a preacher at the end of his life, was asked what he would do differently. He said that he wasted enough time in his life for ten men, and that he wouldn’t waste time. He talked about the zeal he had for God at the beginning of his faith, and how, as he matured, that fire seemed to go out; the preacher said that, if he could do it again, he would seek, every day, as he matured, to stoke that fire for Christ each and every day. That got me thinking: how much time do I waste? What could I be doing different and better to affect a better relationship with Christ? How much more should I seek Christ in the “down time” that I have?
Loved ones, we have a start date and an end date. In the end, it won’t matter how many trips we took, experiences we had, worlds we conquered in video games, or any other such thing. We need to make our lives count for Jesus Christ. If we look at our pursuits based on what we spend our time, money and leisure pursuing, what would it show that we value? Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; this does not mean we seek it first, THEN pursue other things. This means that we pursue God in all things, then He will add what we need. Putting God first means His agenda, His will, His Kingdom, His interests. THIS should be our goal. Jesus didn’t save us to give us our best life now. He saved us that we might walk in His love, by His truth and in the power of the Holy Spirit. He died to give us new life, don’t waste it!
2 Corinthians 5
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 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.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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