A few weeks back I read that the president of a company I worked for many years ago had died. Seeking details, I found a photo of his final resting place and the epitaph, “I’ve had a marvelous life.”
And so he did. A brilliant, articulate, energetic man, he rose quickly to the top of the company he eventually would lead. He was gifted in many areas, had a bright, cultured wife, exquisite taste, and was one of those rare people who could talk intelligently about most anything.
He lived in Beverly Hills until his custom, beach front home in Malibu was ready. It was a 12,000 square foot, one-of-a-kind show place, which took eight years to plan and complete, having been designed by a renowned architect. He spent many of his retirement years in France.
But as far as I know, he never expressed any real interest in the things of God or His Son, Jesus, even though he had heard the Gospel from a Christian who worked closely with him at the corporate office.
My mind ran immediately to the young man who refused Jesus’ invitation to follow Him because he had great wealth. And then to that haunting question (Matthew 16:26), “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?”
This world has great natural beauty, and so many wonderful things that capture our attention and fire our imagination. God has favored us with work, family, friends, and opportunities to build relationships.
These very gifts, in addition to the material blessings we enjoy, can distract us from the Giver (1 Timothy 6:17). Let’s resolve always to focus upon Him rather than His gifts. Let’s not settle for a marvelous life, only to miss eternity with Jesus.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. . . And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Matthew 7:24-26