My spring fever takes the form of biking and running through my neighborhood. I absolutely love the bright green of new leaves, flowers and wind on my face. When considering the grandeur of God’s creation in light of its intricate details, I can’t help but praise the Creator. As I pass my neighbors and friends, however, I am struck by the heavy truth that they don’t see Him as their loving Creator at all.
Throughout high school, and especially during the last two years, I have been faced with the question of what my end goal should be. I have immediate plans to go to KSU, study science and pass calculus, but the Holy Spirit has broadened my perspective and given me His own.
In her book, “Things As They Are,” eighteenth century missionary Amy Carmichael begs her readers to see life as God sees it. She borrows Paul’s illustration in his letter to the Corinthians which mentions two different types of materials that can be used to build up the church. The precious metals and stones represent the acts of service that God has prepared for each of His children so that they might strengthen and expand the church. The less valuable materials represent anything that God has not called a believer to do, good or bad. According to Paul, these lesser materials will burn in the judgment fire.
I wondered what kind of materials I had been using. Through God’s grace, my salvation and identity are secure, but does God consider my actions and priorities eternally worthless or eternally worthwhile?
“And as we realize the perishableness of all work, however, apparently successful, except the one work done in the one way God means, oh, does it not stir us up to seek with an intensity of purpose…to find out what that one work is?” said Carmichael.
I realized that I want my life’s attitude, prayers, and career to maximize my service to the Lord and to expand His church. Many things will ultimately render themselves useless when we get to eternity. These things aren’t worth so much of our time.
Knowing what God has called us to do with our time comes down to knowing the voice of the Holy Spirit. As you make seemingly minor decisions throughout high school and go through the sometimes mundane daily routine, keep eternity in mind. Organize your time in a way that allows you to not only draw nearer to God and know His voice, but also to show His love to others.
I realized there are so many little changes I can make in my day that allow me to focus my time on God. Instead of listening to my usual playlist, I can listen to more worship songs. Instead of scrolling through Instagram, I can pray for missionaries who I know are on the front line of spiritual warfare. Instead of having so many surface-level conversations, I can purposely add some depth to conversations with my friends.
“Our intimacy with God…determines the impact of our lives,” pastor Charles Stanley said.
Although they sometimes seem distant and vague, spiritual realities are the ones that matter most. In the end, will the things we spend our time on actually matter? Will God look at our lives as eternally worthless or eternally worthwhile?