“Don’t hoard earthly riches. Stockpile your treasures in heaven instead." ~ Matthew 6:19-20
After heart surgery weeks ago,
Allen remembered hovering above his hospital bed observing the hospital staff
moving frantically around him. Someone
called, “Grab the paddles!” Despite the
urgency in the room, Allen felt remarkably calm. He knew he was having a heart attack but felt
no pain. He just floated above,
watching.
As his body lay on the operating table, Christ suddenly
appeared beside his out-of-body self. He
permitted Allen to revisit scenes from his life, revealing the value He placed
on Allen’s actions.
Shockingly (to Allen), Christ didn’t flip cartwheels
because he’d given away large sums of money to philanthropic causes. And He didn’t say, “Well done, my good and
faithful servant,” when He reviewed the man’s academic and business achievements.
Rather, it was a simple encounter that Allen
had with his sister that pleased Him the most.
Years before, Allen noticed his sister grow heartbroken from
a romantic breakup and a fear that joy had forever escaped her. In an effort to comfort her grieving, he embraced
her tightly for an extended time. His
love was freely given, making it a priceless, everlasting bond.
In Christ’s book, that was Allen’s greatest accomplishment.
Then God whispered something Allen needed to know about
eternity. “It really does matter in
heaven what you do on the earth,” He quipped.
And then He was gone - quicker than He’d come.
Allen survived, waking up in the hospital bed next to his
wife and father. He’d never considered
himself a religious man, but after that experience, he knew there was something
in the universe much larger than any of us.
While you’re seeking God to reveal your life’s purpose,
sometimes little acts of love can seem mundane and unimportant, like helping
your wife balance the checkbook, choosing to have patience with one of your
children, or reaching out to the neighbor you find contemptible. But God notices … and remembers.
It’s hard to live with eternity in view. There are moments when it seems that the most
important thing in life is getting through this traffic, winning this argument,
or satisfying that craving.
These are the moments we get lost in the middle of our own
story - we lose our minds, we lose our sense of direction, and we lose our dependence
on Him. Luckily, He reminds us not to
live for the treasure of the moment; that this isn’t all there is. We were created for all eternity.
Lord, I don’t understand everything but, in
my heart, I know You are real and listening. I need and want You. Wash me clean by Your freely-sacrificed blood at
the cross. Help me live with an eye on
the present and my soul focused on eternity. Amen
