What have I done today that is of eternal significance? Maybe the first question is: What is of eternal significance?
Here are all the things of eternal significance that I can think of:
1. Glorify God
2. Introduce others to God
3. Encourage others to follow and glorify God
That’s all I can think of! Unless I’m missing something, I believe I am here to do the Great Commission, as commanded by our Lord and King, and to live my life as a ‘living sacrifice’ that brings Glory to the Father.
If this is what I am here for, then all other activities pale in comparison, do they not? In my opinion (read: could be completely off-base here), this really helps with the discussion on whether somebody being a ‘nice guy’ should go to heaven… let me explain.
First of all, someone being a ‘nice guy’ is completely objective – I mean, I even know people that think I’m a ‘nice guy’, so what does that tell you? One person will say someone is a ‘nice guy’, and another person will say the same person is a jerk.
Being a ‘nice guy’ is also situational. I am a ‘nice guy’ when I leave a good tip for a mediocre waitress, but when I get in my car and drive away and somebody turns right in front of me, you may not say I’m a ‘nice guy’ for my reaction.
Further, to return to the earlier point: Does leaving a good tip for a mediocre waitress have eternal significance? Perhaps, that is also situational. Let’s say I just order, eat, and leave – in this case, I doubt there is much more than a few extra dollars at play for the waitress. However, perhaps she sees me praying in thanksgiving for my food; giving her a smile and being quick to forgive when she gets my order wrong; thanking her for her service; saying “Have a blessed day!” when I hand over a generous tip. This could possibly have a real impact on her.
Of course, I’m not so naïve to assume that something like this will always result in cataclysmic, life-changing implications, but it is often little things that can make a huge difference – both to the waitress, and to myself. I will leave the restaurant knowing I let my “light shine before men” – the waitress will be left with some extra pocket money, for sure – and hopefully a little of that light got transferred to her, as well.
When it’s all said and done, everything we do will either point people to Christ, or miss the point.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
#LoveMatters