Finite

I have been reflecting lately about how radically finite our lives really are. Every minute passes is a minute we don't get back. We can however, invest in the infinite. Jesus encouraged us to take our finite lives and maker them count for eternity. I have regretted hundreds of decisions with my time, money and energy. Some of those decisions I knew were foolish to begin with, some seemed wise at the time. One investment I have never regretted is an investment in eternity. My family and I have attempted to arrange our lives around eternity which includes investing as much as possible there. We have always given 10% towards our church but we have also in the last 6 or 7 years determined to do more and more. For us, this means making sacrifices in the here and now so that we can invest more in heaven. What's amazing about it, is that although every year we feel called to more and more sacrifice, and to make tougher and tougher decisions, we seem to be more and more blessed. Sometimes I know for me it is hard to make the connection between current sacrifices and eternal gains, but I try to imagine it from the other point of view. Imagine from heaven's perspective, choosing a choclate bar over an eternal soul.

Here's a fun story about that,

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel heard his plea and appeared to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you."

The man begged the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continued to pray that his wealth could follow him.

The angel reappeared and informed the man that God had decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathered his largest suitcase and filled it with pure gold bars and placed it beside his bed.

Soon afterward, he died and showed up at the gates of heaven to greet St. Peter.

St. Peter, seeing the suitcase, said, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!"

The man explained to St. Peter that he had permission and asked him to verify his story with the Lord.

Sure enough, St. Peter checked it out, came back and said, "You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through."

St. Peter opened the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaimed,

 

 "You brought pavement?"