(Evgeni Dinev - FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Another way we seek purpose in life is through our legacy. The picture above probably strikes you as it does me - it looks like something that should be in the Lord of the Rings movies. Here in the U.S., "ancient" ruins like this are often surrounded by a fence and accompanied by some sort of marker that tells us what it is we are looking at. In Europe, this can also be true, but oftentimes ancient ruins like this can just be found resting on a hillside somewhere, unidentified to all expect the locals who know the true stories. My brother who lives in France has told me about biking through certain regions where there are old castles, parts in disrepair, that have been uninvestigated for years. But for any who take a moment to reflect, there would likely stir up thoughts like, "Who built this", "How long did it take to do that hundreds of years ago without our modern construction equipment", and "What was the architect saying by creating this structure?"
There is something within us that desires to last. The famous poem Ozymandias by Shelley tells just that story, and yet the struggle that we all face in making something truly last. Just a few weeks ago I spoke to a group and asked them to pay attention to the latest death or even tragedy in Hollywood, and then to see how quickly - no matter how famous the star was - the media moves on past that death on to whatever else is seen as new under the sun. The reality is even the most famous movie star or athlete seems quickly forgotten by the masses just days or weeks after he or she is gone. And so one has to reflect, "Can we really leave a lasting impression on this world? Can we really have a legacy that is of any significance?"
1 Corinthians 15 says, "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
The promise to the Christ-follower is that our life here on earth is just a short stretch of time, and that we will live forever with Him and His people. The actions of the follower of Jesus today echo into eternity. There is no unused effort in the eyes of God - all that we do He finds a way to weave together for a great story, a greater good (Romans 8:28).
There is within us a part that aches to know that we have made an impact and that our efforts are not wasted - that what we have done in this life has purpose greater than in just this moment.
The resurrection offers us that hope.
- tC
There is something within us that desires to last. The famous poem Ozymandias by Shelley tells just that story, and yet the struggle that we all face in making something truly last. Just a few weeks ago I spoke to a group and asked them to pay attention to the latest death or even tragedy in Hollywood, and then to see how quickly - no matter how famous the star was - the media moves on past that death on to whatever else is seen as new under the sun. The reality is even the most famous movie star or athlete seems quickly forgotten by the masses just days or weeks after he or she is gone. And so one has to reflect, "Can we really leave a lasting impression on this world? Can we really have a legacy that is of any significance?"
1 Corinthians 15 says, "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
The promise to the Christ-follower is that our life here on earth is just a short stretch of time, and that we will live forever with Him and His people. The actions of the follower of Jesus today echo into eternity. There is no unused effort in the eyes of God - all that we do He finds a way to weave together for a great story, a greater good (Romans 8:28).
There is within us a part that aches to know that we have made an impact and that our efforts are not wasted - that what we have done in this life has purpose greater than in just this moment.
The resurrection offers us that hope.
- tC
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