Meaningless

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Most Christians would have heard the phrase, "You're too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good." I know what that quote is implying at face value. I do think we can become too inwardly focused trying to improve ourselves to be more Christ-like that we end up being of little help to those around us. However, I venture to ask the question, "If our focus isn't on heaven, can we be of any good here on earth?"

I think a lot of Christians have lost the proper reverence we should feel toward God, the Creator and Savior of this universe. I believe it trickles down from our church leaders who have tried to incorporate fun programs into the church to become a "church for the unchurched." Where messages of love are preached and the harder topics of sinfulness go unwilling to be addressed.  While God IS love and He "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV) He also calls us to be a righteous people. As His children, we should have a respectable fear of God; the Lord of lords and King of kings.

I have been reading Ecclesiastes this week and in the first verse of the first chapter, the author declares, "'Meaningless Meaningless!' says the Teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.'" This book of the Bible summarizes that while there is a time for everything, life still goes by so quickly. All the work we do here on earth, all the possessions we acquire, all the goals we meet and successes we accomplish are enjoyable during our time here but, in the end, truly mean nothing. We all face the same fate, and that is death itself.  We can't take any of it with us. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV), the book concludes with these words, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

Let's stop trying to do more, get more and be more; all of which are meaningless. Turn your focus toward heaven and ask God how He would have you help someone this week. Fear the God who made your very being and lay yourself down before Him so that you can make a lasting, meaning-FULL impact with your time left on earth.

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