“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
I wonder what would it be like if we were able to look from the end of our life to the beginning. How would we live differently?
Steve Jobs once said, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.”
We often make decisions that compromise our souls — the very eternal part of us — because we try to fulfill the cravings of our flesh and seek what this temporal world offers us. We are so focused on our immediate needs, we lose sight of our eternal purpose.
Job 27:8 says, “For what hope have the godless when they are cut off, when God takes away their life?”
When we understand that our lives on this earth are but a mere drop of water in the ocean of eternity, our mind and spirit are opened to what it means to live for the Kingdom of God, which is what we were created for.
Jesus told us to pray for His Kingdom to come (Mathew 6:10), and to seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
We are called to abandon what is temporary, and instead to invest our time to the things of God. In this way, we will be able to live with the hope and assurance of spending eternity with our loving and gracious God. The exchange is well worth it!
Heavenly Father, help me live for eternity. Open my eyes to seeing what matters most to You. Mold my heart, and help me to seek first Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Take Action
What you devote yourself to is usually a good indicator of what you value. Take stock of your life. How do you spend your time? Are you devoting yourself to this world, or to the Kingdom of God?