What really matters

"So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

Last January, Lauren Barnathan, 31, said she didn't realize what was happening to her when she tried to roll over in bed but couldn't because her left side was totally limp. Since she had always been fit and active, Lauren didn't suspect a stroke but her then-fiance, Adam, an emergency room doctor, did and got her to the hospital for immediate treatment. A year later, Lauren made a 99 percent recovery and, accompanied by her now-husband, crossed the finish line of her first half marathon. The two say they look at life differently now with Adam summing it up this way, "When you have a scare like that... it put things into perspective.”

And while a near-death experience could certainly cause a person to look at life differently, putting things into perspective, or determining what truly matters, is something that shouldn’t be put off by any of us - especially since you and I aren't guaranteed tomorrow. So what truly matters then? C.T. Studd summed it up this way, "Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last." Paul certainly understood the uncertainty of life which is why he told us to fix our gaze on "things that cannot be seen." You see, so many of the things "we see now" and work for like nicer cars, bigger homes or name-brand clothing will "soon be gone." And only those things we do for the Kingdom, like witnessing to the lost or helping people in their time of need, “will last forever.”

So that's it my friend. Being the light of Jesus in a dark world is what truly matters. With that in mind, may we choose to live for Him each and every day and allow His light to shine through us that the lost may come to know Him before it's too late. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that life is short at best and that we should make the most of every second we are given. Help us to love others in the same way that You love us Lord and to have an unquenchable passion to serve them in the same way You came to serve us. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

MercyMe - Blink of an eye