No doubt you heard about the passing of Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple who is credited with recent innovation of many technology gadgets and tools. His is a more recent example of one whose life is defined and often measured by the legacy he leaves behind. But what is far more important to Steve, and all of us, is whether our deeds in this life will benefit us when we leave this temporary dwelling.
One of the best definitions and guides that we can use to understand what can benefit us in the life to come is one that Paul gave through inspiration; “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor 4:18). This passage clearly explains that anything physical (things that are seen) is not going to last through eternity and Peter goes on to say that the world and all the works in it are going to be burned up (2Pet 3:10).
It was for good reason that Paul told those in Colossae to, “set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2). And Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mtt 6:19-21). In verse 24, Jesus went on to say that we cannot serve both God and material. We’re warned in 1Jn 2:15 that if we love the world and the things in the world then the love of the Father is not in us. So we need to consider where we want our affection and spiritual heart to be focused and invested –in the things of this life, or the life to come. And that choice, and our faithfulness to God (as demonstrated by our obedience), will dictate our eternal destination.
Jesus shed some light on our inner man when he rebuked the Pharisees and told them, “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Mtt 23:26). He could see that the internal qualities of the heart were defiling them. And so we know what will abide, and it is those qualities of our heart. Paul said, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1Cor 13:13). Paul said, “…the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is (1Cor 3:13b). The spiritual will remain, the earthly will be burned up.
Steve, like many others, was successful in this life by any number of measures but his eternal success, like everyone’s, will not be measured by his riches or fame, it will be measured by his obedience to God as revealed by his heart.
~ Matt Johnson ~
Jurong Outreach 