By Chris WittsTuesday 14 Mar 2023Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Sometimes we need to stop and ask ourselves what’s really important in my life. Now we can live each day not worrying about the future or thinking, “Look, I’m not going to concern myself about the bigger issues of life that can wait.” But, you know, on occasions things happen that bring us up with a jolt. For example, a routine visit to the doctor reveals a hidden lump or possible cancer, and our life suddenly becomes more focused.
And someone once referred to this as a clarifying moment, a time when we stop, perhaps in shock. What’s going on? I think that many people who have these clarifying moments have a strong desire to make the most of their lives. They know better now not to take everything for granted. They don’t want to waste time because they’re acutely aware that the clock is ticking. They become focused. Each day is a gift. So I think today it’s helpful to ask the question.
What’s really important to my life? Who or what is the most important? Is it time or money? Are they the things that are the encouragement or the limitation of my life. Maybe it’s what other people expect are the expectations that everyone has directing your life. What about disappointment? Shame? Are they preventing you from going forward? Maybe it’s hurt and anger. Could these be keeping you from having the life that God intends?
Maybe you’re still trying to live up to your father’s expectation for you, or maybe the demands that your family, which stopped you from doing other things. So are you directing your life? Most of us think this is the goal that we want to be the directors of our own lives. I read somewhere that Dr Billy Graham was honored by community leaders in Charlotte in North Carolina. Now, many nice things were said about him.
But when Billy Graham stepped up to speak, he said, I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist honored by the Time Magazine as the man of the century. Einstein was once travelling, he said from Princeton on a train, and the conductor came down the aisle punching the tickets for each passenger. But when he came to Einstein, Einstein reached into his pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase, wasn’t there.
And the conductor said, Dr Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought the ticket. Don’t worry about it. Well, Einstein was quite embarrassed. The conductor continued down the aisle punching his tickets. And as he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great man on his hands and knees looking under the seat. He rushed back. Dr Einstein don’t worry. I know who you are. It’s no problem. I don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one and then Einstein said, “Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where am I going?”
And Billy Graham said to the crowd, “you see the suit that I’m wearing, I bought it for this luncheon and for one more occasion. And that’s the suit in which I’ll be buried. And when you hear that I’m dead, I don’t want you to remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember not only know who I am, but that I also know where I’m going.”
Now when I read that I thought this is a great lesson about one man who knows what’s important in life and to have the assurance that with God, everything is OK. So my question this morning, what does God want from my life? When you read through the Bible, you can summarise the answer to that question fairly simply. God wants your whole life. God wants one hundred percent of you, not 50% of you God desires all of you. You see, it’s the good news of Jesus, his death and resurrection, and that he deserves everything you’ve got. If it’s not true, then I’m certainly wasting my time being on the air with you today, the only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important. It’s either all or nothing. It’s either true that you should determine the rest of your life, or you should just go on and do whatever you do.
Let’s Pray
Thank God that we can trust him for the correct answer. Heavenly, Father, I thank you that we can answer the question. What’s really important in life? There are so many trivial things going on around me. But Lord, my faith in you, I know is the most important thing. Amen.