“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Goals and aspirations change as we grow older, my parents would say, we would understand things better with just a few more risings and settings of the sun. Youthful dreams are more aligned with the success of an idealistic job, home, spouse, etc. but, true enough, as we grow older, we are more attuned to seek goals that are geared towards the simplistic things in life… having experienced that things do come and go with time. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12.

And we know that for the beloved children of God, what is lasting is far greater and is eternal in the heavens. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Having said that, we should never give up on achieving a goal; the point is that we need to know where that goal leads; how do we live so that the things that we acquire and do, reflect not who we are… but whose we are. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matthew 6:20.

A teacher scholar by name of Forest E. Witcraft wrote this poem with an educator’s perspective: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

The message is quite clear, it is certainly not about the things we acquire, but the way that we live-every born-again believer are lights that point all men to the true light of the world, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

My friends, true success is defined in love, joy, peace, comfort, mercy, and all the innumerable spiritual blessings that can only come from above. It is Christ that lives in us to do His perfect will that helps us run this Christian race…so, as the gospel hymn goes…Lord, keep me day by day:

Lord, keep my day by day,

In a pure and perfect way.

I want to live, I want to live on

In a building not made by hand.

Lord, keep my body strong

So that I can do no wrong.

Lord, give me grace just to run this Christian race

To a building not made by hand.

May God’s abundant grace keep us all!