We all probably heard a few stories leading up to the Solar eclipse on Monday, and if you didn’t travel somewhere for an eclipse party, you probably noticed the cloudless sky dimming a bit close to 2 pm. We had some friends over to our house to view the partial eclipse in 2017 on a partly cloudy day and still enjoyed it. A couple months ago, I was organizing some stored things and came across a box of unused solar eclipse glasses and made a mental note that I would get these out and offer them to others when needed later on. Well, I went to track these down last week and they were not where I thought they were, so I started to question where it was I had found them or even moved them as sometimes I do that in hopes of finding them more easily. Well, eclipse day came and went and I was not able to find that box of glasses, and by the time I realized it, most other places around town were out by then, so my family resorted to using the pinhole projection method instead of staring at the sun. I had hoped to be able to give some away to friends or others as well, as we had plenty, but that did not happen either. Though i had the resources to use, somewhere in my possession, they went highly underutilized. So, if I find them again, should I hold on for another 20 years till the next time I can use them, or learn from my mistake and move on?
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26
When we look at all the resources we have including money, knowledge, connections, and time we have in live, what good comes of it? All that we have is likely underutilized on any given week. We may have opportunities to speak truth, help others, do our jobs well, make an impact in our community, share the Gospel, or any number of other things, but there is likely much wasted time on any given day as well. We all need to rest, and eat, and take care of the hundreds of little chores that life demands of us, but what difference do they all make in life when all is said and done? Just take a snapshot of the past five years and consider what you would do differently knowing then what you know now. You may choose not to invest in things that proved futile, to take time to grow more meaningful relationship, or to spend more time with those who would be gone from your life too soon, among other things. There are lots of ways we can see how to better spend time, money, and energy in hindsight, but does that make a difference in how we burn daylight and what we do going forward?
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2-3
When you consider all that you have in this short life, what do you consider your greatest resource? You might have a good reputation in the community, but make any number of mistakes and that is gone for the rest of your life and your friends will deny they knew you. You might have built a good business and have access to plenty of money to do with what you please to build your empire, but no one will likely know your name 100 years from now. You may be in good health and look forward to decades of life, but one wrong move by someone else and it could be your last earthy day. When all is said and done, nothing we have in this life is guaranteed, except for one thing. When God makes a promise to us, we can trust that He will keep his Word. The hope we have of a saving faith in Christ helps us see beyond the limits of this world and the fleeting things it offers. Let us put our hope in eternal things and use what we have been momentarily given now to use for things that last instead. Let those missed opportunities we have experienced motivate us to strive to do more with the limited time we all have left in life.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
Yours in Christ,
Clark
