“I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor– it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-13 NAS)
World Help founder and president, Vernon Brewer says, “Every day I try to live my life in such a way that I accomplish at least one thing that will outlive me and last for eternity.” Brewer’s point is regularly made by successful people who are changing the world. Do today what is most important to your goals and will endure for all time.
We pastors get busy in the Kingdom, as the Lord’s under-shepherds, and soon forget just how important it is to focus on eternal things. Our to-do list is full of good and “important” tasks, yet achieving them may not impact eternity at all.
We read Brewer’s statement or hear a similar one and suddenly our to-do tasks are not nearly as important as we thought. God has given us this life. He has arranged our lives in such a way that everything is appropriate in its time. He has set eternity in our hearts. Certainly there can be nothing better for us to do than to impact eternity in our lifetime.
So our to-do list is reduced to: “occupy myself with one task that will outlive me and impact eternity.” Think about this. If we achieve only one eternal-minded task each day, we have not failed in our work. In addition, we will change our lives and the course of eternity. Our lives and work are a process. We don’t achieve growth, maturity, or eternal things in one day . . . that’s why it is called lifetime.
Dear Father, thank you for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who impacted our lives for all eternity. Empower us to achieve everyday the one thing by which we can impact eternity. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today as you impact eternity,