Death is one aspect of life that, though inevitable, short of Christ’s return we will all deal with. Over the last few weeks I have been confronted with death from many angles.  I have officiated a funeral, attended another, lost an uncle to a long battle with cancer, and am writing this article after visiting with my childhood pastor who is on his deathbed. With all of this exposure to the realities of life and death I have been forced to think more pointedly about living a life well spent.  There are many ways in which man has defined a life well spent. Great emphasis is put on attaining success, accumulating wealth, helping others, finding love, raising children, being honest, and showing generosity.  Ultimately the only things that will matter in eternity are the things done in service of Christ. I sat in a hospital room today with my childhood pastor.  He is without a doubt one of the two most influential men in my life and ministry.  Pastor, though weak, managed to reminisce with me about his ministry as I look forward to the remainder of mine.  Pastor has raised children, been married almost 40 years, and has earned a Doctorate. He has pastored the same church for 26 years which now has nearly 800 people attending on Sunday mornings.  Under his ministry there have been over 20 individuals, including myself, who have been called into full-time Christian service. From the human perspective Pastor has lived his life well. The thing that has concerned Pastor in his last days is the same thing that ought to concern us everyday.  He has not been concerned that people would remember him for his accomplishments as a man, but that they would see him as a man who lived his life in full regard for what the Lord Jesus Christ expected of him.  He has an understanding that only the things done to further the cause of Christ will matter in eternity.The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians; “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.   Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize?  So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”We do not live our lives so that we might honor others or impress our peers.  As Paul said, “…They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”   The ancient athlete trained and competed to win a laurel wreath that would rot and disappear with time.  We live our lives striving to please God by bringing honor and glory to him through the testimony of His grace and love in our lives.  Our only concern and motivation in life should be; “Has what I have done today been pleasing to God?”   
 


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