“For whoever would save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26a ESV)
Among the people of this earth, who has the real advantage? Do the people who can afford luxurious vacations, luxury cars, and long-lasting family money have the real advantage? Do the persons with multiple degrees, magnificent resumes, and many friends in high places have the real advantage? One more question to get you thinking. Do people who inherited a famous fortune or the fortunate people who invested in stocks and reaped a great financial gain have the real advantage? Depending on our perspective or the prism in which we see things, we would be prompted to join the voices that answer, “Yes, those are the people who have the real advantage.”
But wait a minute! Think about it. Vacations will not last forever. Luxury cars break down just like the less expensive, economy cars that we buy with no added features, just the basic models. Degrees are good to earn, and they will easily open doors, but the doors will close as the things associated with the advancement of years takes its tow. Fortunes once spent are possibly gone, or if you hold on to your fortunes until you leave this earth, still, you can’t take them with you. Stocks will have periods of gains and losses, and sometimes the gains don’t come out the way one guesses.
Now, don’t get me wrong! Strive to do your best! Seek to achieve! Accumulate, but don’t waste your wealth and don’t wane away from others who have not achieved your rank. Value education! But most and foremost, make sure you acquire everlasting life through your faith in Jesus Christ. Make sure you are in the numbers that are saved by grace through faith.
My friend, use what you have been blessed with, however it may rank in comparison to others. Use what you have been blessed with in a righteous way to reach your goals and bless others along the way. Use the Christ in you. That’s the real advantage, Christ in you. Realize that the real advantage, having Jesus in your life is incomparable with anything else. As a matter of fact, this real advantage you have as a believer really lasts, and rest assured it reaches throughout an eternity that has no end. Remember that and while remembering others, have a great start to your Memorial Day holiday with family and friends! But don’t forget the real advantage and say at least one time today, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Be blessed!
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King