Daily Archives: May 9, 2013

The Most Valuable Pieces of Real Estate

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I read somewhere that the most valuable pieces of real estate on earth are not the oil fields of Saudi Arabia or Texas. The most valuable pieces of real estate on earth are not the gold mines of California, or even the diamond mines of Africa. The most valuable pieces of real estate on earth are the cemeteries!

Within the cemeteries lay books, plays, and dramas unwritten, dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, symphonies uncomposed, masterpieces of art undrawn, promises unkept and potential unrealized! In the cemeteries lay rows upon rows of “could haves, should haves and would haves” because most people die with their potential largely untapped and their best still within them!

The preacher in Biblical book of Ecclesiastes said: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the grave), to which you are going.” (9:10 ESV) Live life in such a manner that when it’s all said and done, you will have done your best with no regrets! Don’t take your best to the grave with you! Leave it out on the playing field of life! Don’t contribute to the wealth of the cemetery, but rather live your life making valuable investments into the lives of the people around you. Don’t rust out; wear out! Give it your best shot now because you only go around once!

Why Are You Here?

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I can remember, as a child, I asked my mother: “Mom, if you hadn’t had me, who would have had me?” In response, my mother just gave me a long look and then she said: “Boy! Go somewhere and play!” She never answered my question and believe it or not, after all this time, I am still curious to know the answer!

My question to my Mom might be one that cannot be answered, but there is a question that everyone should have an answer for! That question is the question of the purpose for your sojourn here on this earth. Now, I am not talking about general purpose, I’m talking about specific purpose. The Westminster Catechism says that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. So, the general purpose of man is to glorify God, but how do we do that? Everybody doesn’t glorify God exactly the same way! Jesus gave us a hint in John 17. As he prayed, he said to his Father in verse 4: “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” (ESV) So, we can deduct from the prayer of Jesus that a person glorifies God, thereby fulfilling God’s purpose, by accomplishing the work that God has given him or her to do. Therefore, you can answer the original question by finding out what “the work” is that God has given you to do.

The work of Moses was to lead the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. The work of Joshua was to lead the Children of Israel to inherit and possess the Promised Land. The work of Jesus was to die on the cross and be raised from the dead for the redemption of mankind. The work of the Apostle Paul was to establish the church among the non-Jewish peoples. The work of Martin Luther was to spark the Reformation. The work of Abraham Lincoln was to save the Union and free the slaves. The work of Martin Luther King, Jr., was to lead the non-violent civil rights moment. Now, we know about all these individuals, but they were not so unique in the sense that they were the only ones in their generation given a specific work to do. Every person has a calling (a work) and has been equipped to do a specific work.

The main goal or purpose of any individual’s life is not to make money or to be successful, but rather to find their specific work (purpose for being) and engage in that work with all of their strength. You are here in this particular season for a specific reason! Your main pursuit in life should not be success or fame, but rather purpose! Sometimes success and/or fame will come with purpose, sometimes it will not. And if your calling is one that does not bring you notoriety, don’t think little of it. The work that God has called you to do is just as important as the work of Abraham, Moses, the Apostle Paul, or Martin Luther!

However, the one of the greatest tragedies of life is to go through life and even die without ever knowing and/or fulfilling your purpose! It is a tragedy to die without ever knowing why you were born! And as I look around today, the tragedy of people leaving without ever knowing why they came is all too common!