In terms of history none of what I say or do is very important. In fact, the mad majority of us will be forgotten. Although I write a lot, when I’m gone they won’t find much about my life archived or otherwise (I feign from assuming anybody would even try, in a worldly sense my life has been quite insignicant). My political views, even my industrious accomplishments will be lost in the trash bin of history like it or not! Did you know ours was the first company to build screen doors with scenes in the bottom panel? Obscurity has already begun, all my competitors do it now and nobody will remember or care that I did it first. God forbid I suspect even my blog and Facebook posts will dissapear without reparations.

Nothing! I will be nothing but a blurb in history! Haha, right! But so too is your fate! Your life, if lived famously, could be at best a Classic movie that nobody watches 50 years from now. But more likely a film short will be made by your child or grandchildren (on an app of course), self published and “posted;” only to be lost forever by changes in “terms and conditions” or technology! When the Coup De Grâce comes (the death blow) I should be very lucky in a century or two to have so much as a readable headstone – “Loving Husband, Good Father, and Friend.” And should they dig me up 500 years in the future at best they may speculate that I was little more than a post modern human, circa 21st century; I doubt my casket clothes or Ironman Watch will make it to a museum; I hope they suspect I died smiling. To the historian will my educational degree matter? Sadly, I can hardly find squat about my playing football at Wisconsin in the 1970’s, not even a team photo exists online. I bought a brick to be placed in front of the stadium with my name on it for a fundraiser, how long will that last? Till the next re-construction project fundraiser I suspect. Will your work on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, or advanced broom pushing matter when you are little more than a pile of lime dust? Even “important people” suffer such a fate. Catherine Howard, Henry the VIII’s 5th wife, was buried beneath an unmarked grave stone under the altar in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula. Upon examination they found only dust beneath her stone (probably a good thing, she was a beheaded queen).

Face it, your secular future is pretty grim. If you think otherwise you have not visited a graveyard lately!

To be fairminded our lives today still matter. They matter to others; if only for a few generations. But listen up! Even if you are ok with dust in your future! Your unbelief does not negate the truth or purposes of God! There are both blessings and fearsome consequences beyond dust.

Still, with the above warning the popular cry is, “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!” For people in these parts we say, “Eat, hunt, fish, hike, vote, thin trees, and build things, for soon enough you’ll need to move to town! There is very little talk about eternity at potlucks.

God created us for reasons blessed and purposeful. We are objects of God’s purpose, we are called to service. Some believe that all should be able to live their lives in the manner they want, regardless of what other may think of them. This is the secular “Live and Let Live” idiom! It is a lie! Actually, we likely have many gifts assigned to us by heaven itself. These are given us for our own good, the good of others, and all for the glory of God. If we look inward we may observe both talents and thorns sown deep in our souls. Hence, for reasons and directions not always clear, we have purpose! But there is more! Every day is a day for opportunity! If we have the gifts of the Spirit by faith in Jesus our allocation may include opportunities for worship, sharing, or personal growth. Think of the opportunities to show kindness and mercy. When we do these things we do them for God’s eternal glory (purpose). Maybe this day is meant for growth in patience? All our trials, duties, and blessing are meant for eternity, not the ruins of legend or fiction. Face it, our earthly legacy will someday be dust, but our spiritual destiny is eternal. Do you remember Empress Matilda? How about Musa Keita I, “Emperor” of Ancient Mali? It is somewhere between ignorance and omniscience we live; none should regard themselves too highly, history will forget you! But with God’s eternal vision both our lives and our futures are not grim or meaningless, nor will we be forgotten.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” …