Isaiah 48:10 (CSB)
Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Crisis has a way of reminding us of the fleeting nature of life. September 11, 2001, was a wakeup call for our nation. And for roughly six weeks, the people in our country lived according to what really mattered. The following Sunday, no pro football games were played. Our nation was mourning the loss and seeking God. Every church I knew of was full; some were overflowing, and men who had never shed a tear in church were getting up and going to the back of the church so they could cry without anyone seeing them. For a short time, families, employers, and entertainment all had their proper place in our country. The pain of 9/11 clarified in everyone’s mind what is important and what is of real value.
Two minutes after you die, what’s going to matter? Ponder on that for a moment. Are there some things in your life right now that you are very stressed about that won't matter two minutes after you die? This is important to consider. Jesus talked about eternal rewards over and over again in passages like Matthew 6:19–21 (CSB), “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
All of us are living in the shadow of eternity. It's easy to forget this in times of comfort and ease. But God can use tragedies and crisis moments to remind us of our mortality and jolt us back to the reality that everything here is temporary and fleeting. This brings an important question to the surface: How are we investing our lives here for eternity?
When we live our lives from a Kingdom perspective, everything changes. Our priorities shift off this world and into heaven, our hearts soften, and our eternal focus sharpens. In doing so, we discover a deeper, richer Kingdom purpose for our lives. We begin to look for opportunities to love, to serve, to grow, and to glorify God.
So today focus on living out the words of Psalm 90:12 (CSB), “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live with eternity in mind, with the understanding that every moment here is a gift from God and an opportunity to live in His Kingdom purpose.
Image just two minutes after you breathe your last, everything you've worked for here on earth—your possessions, your awards, the accomplishments you've been proud of—are going to mean nothing. They will vanish and become ashes. Instead, the fires of God's judgment are going to test out one thing: your relationship with Jesus (1 Cor. 3:11–15). The only things that are going to survive the judgment seat of Christ are the things of the Kingdom of God.
Here in this life, in every crisis and in every joy, keep your eyes fixed on King Jesus and his Kingdom. He is always present, ready to guide you, comfort you, and help you find true meaning even in the midst of this chaotic world. So be encouraged to continually seek Jesus and His Kingdom first, prioritizing your relationship with Him above everything else, for He is the only true treasure, and in Him is where you find eternal value and your real home.