If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. – 1 Corinthians 3:14

One of the many things that keeps me on track with the Lord is the idea of forever.  I’m watching my classmates turn 50 left and right.  I remember the birth months of many of them.  My turn is coming up in June.  I’m incredibly aware that I have less life in front of me than behind me.  I want to serve God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Yet, I can still get caught up in the temporary.  I can gravitate towards books, tv shows, and YouTube videos.  The only way I can describe it is that it is like filling my soul up on junk food.  Then, I get back to the presence of God and that temporary stuff seems so stupid and futile.   It seems like something to keep my mind numb and away from what is important.  I must ask myself:  What am I really building that is of eternal value?  It takes a lot of time and effort to build something of lasting value here on Earth.  How much more should it take to build something of lasting value in heaven?

I’ve watched several people be set free in the past several months.  They’re free from needing a relationship, free from addictions, and free from their past.  They’ve confessed the Lord as their Savior.  But as weeks have gone by, they’ve sprinted back to what had them bound.  The temporary overshadows the eternal in weak moments.  This world is designed to keep you away from God and His Word.  

Of course I empathize with them.  I did the same thing as a teen and young adult.  I distinctly remember knowing that I was finally going to be free from a certain addiction.  Yet, it was hard to let go of because God always convicted me when I did it.  I knew that God was always present in that way, even though it was disciplinary.  I wondered if He would truly show up in other ways on the other side.  Was there something more outside of conviction?  Thank goodness there was, but it took faith to find out.

Today, let’s work for the inheritance that God says we can have if we work as unto Him!  Today, let’s use materials that will be refined in the fire as opposed to be burned up.  One day, a select group of people will hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  May you and I work today as if we want to hear these words.

Lord, please help this generation!  They are absolutely addicted to vapes, games, relationships, and basically ease and comfort.  They get clean and run back to the pigsty so fast.  I’m not condemning, for I was one of them.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit!  Give us new hearts and new minds that want to seek after You and truly follow You.  Make us so different from this world.  May we simply remain about the Lord’s business.  Amen.