Live for Eternity
Last Tuesday, I had the honor of attending my maternal grandmother’s funeral in Benson, North Carolina where I grew up.
I wish I had time to tell you more about her — she was an amazing woman — but for now, I wanna simply share with you the most salient reminder to me from her life, which was a life well-lived: It’s that what you do every day, all added together, one day becomes what you did with your life.
And as a Christian, whatever that is, whatever you do with your life, you must keep eternity in view. This life is a vapor, but it matters. So live for eternity, for the glory of God.
This reminds us of our need to confess our sins.
Prayer of Confession
Father in heaven, we so often are so distracted by non-serious things that we are shaped to be non-serious people. We can’t bear to face the reality of heaven and hell and that this life counts, because we waste so much of it on worthless things. You have given us breath, you have given us minds, you have given us hands — and what do we do with what you have given us? What are we doing with our lives? … and where you have called us? … and the season that we each are in?
Father, we recognize that we exist by your grace and for your glory, that we would be happy in your forever. Forgive us, Father, for settling for anything less. Forgive us for mistaking the goal of life to be our comfort. Forgive us for the ways that we’ve chosen not to love our neighbors because it requires too much. Forgive us for growing weary in doing good — wearied, but hurried and distracted. You tell us, “Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
Father, we have failed here, and we as desperate for your mercy. We are your people in need of change and the renewal of your Spirit, which starts with our confession. So lead us now, as in silence, we confess these sins and others to you…
