Made for eternity...

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"
Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
~ Mark 13:1 - 2
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Years ago I remember spending time with a neighbor who was being very reflective. As she shared, she talked of her accomplishments, and the life that she had made for herself. She then summed it all up by saying, "You know, this will all go away. Everything that I have done in my life, will simply fade away."

It's hard for any of us to think about what it is that we will leave behind as our legacy. Our children, the work that we do, the efforts we have made to "make a difference," at some point will be part of history.

And what I have to say about this is, "And it will be okay."

I love thinking about the things that we can do today that will continue to have a lasting effect, however, I also realize that two generations from now it may or may not matter.

One of my most loved possessions is a set of China dishes my great grandmother gave to me when I graduated from high school. For me, they have history, because every time I use them, I think of her. But to my children, who never knew her, they are just dishes.

Leaving behind lasting words, or works, is something we all think about, but for Jesus, he wants us to think more about the future. Not creating monoliths that will one day crumble, but to think about what the Kingdom of God might be like. When we begin to realize our future, it does begin to impact our present, when then becomes part of our history.

Living each day, knowing that we are part of eternity, leaves us with a different outlook. For me, it makes loving my neighbor easier. Tedious tasks more bearable, and my understanding of hope more complete.

Yes, these stones may crumble, but our faith is made to last forever.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2018