There are moments when God quietly interrupts our busy lives with a question that changes everything. What if you knew you were nearing the end of your earthly journey? What would occupy your thoughts? Would you be wishing for a larger bank account, a bigger home, another promotion, or one more vacation? Probably not.
When life is drawing to a close, our perspective changes. The things that once seemed so important suddenly lose their value. We begin to see life through heaven’s eyes. We realize that what mattered most was never the temporary things we accumulated, but the eternal things we invested in.
Jesus reminded us of this when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV)
Every day we are making deposits somewhere. We are either investing in things that will one day disappear or in things that will last forever.
When I think about standing before Jesus one day, I believe three things will matter more than anything else. First, the people we loved. Not merely the people we said we loved, but the people who genuinely experienced the love of Christ through us. Love is the distinguishing mark of every true disciple. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35, NIV) Love isn’t measured by words but by sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. Long after our accomplishments are forgotten, people will remember how we made them feel and whether they encountered the heart of Jesus through us.
Second, the faith we lived. It’s one thing to profess faith. It’s another to live it. Real faith trusts God when prayers seem unanswered, obeys Him when obedience is costly, forgives when forgiveness feels impossible, and keeps moving forward when circumstances tempt us to quit. Faith isn’t simply what we believe with our minds; it’s what we practice with our lives.
Near the end of his life, Paul didn’t celebrate his education, his influence, or his suffering. He simply wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV) What a beautiful testimony. May that be said of every one of us. Not that we lived perfect lives, but that we remained faithful to the One who has always been faithful to us.
Third, the lives we influenced for Christ. Every believer leaves footprints. Someone is watching the way we respond to disappointment, the way we treat people, the way we speak, the way we trust God, and the way we love. Whether we realize it or not, our lives are constantly pointing people somewhere.
The apostle Paul understood this. Speaking to the believers he had led to Christ, he wrote, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, NIV) Imagine that. The people whose lives had been changed by the Gospel were part of Paul’s eternal reward. What an incredible reminder that people—not possessions—are heaven’s greatest treasure.
As I grow older, I find myself thinking less about what I have accomplished and more about who I have loved, how faithfully I have followed Christ, and whether my life has encouraged others to know Him more deeply. Those are the things that echo into eternity.
One day each of us will stand before Jesus. On that day, I don’t believe any believer will wish they had spent more time chasing the temporary things of this world. Instead, I believe our hearts will rejoice over every act of love, every step of faith, and every life that was touched because we simply chose to follow Him.
The world measures success by what you accumulate. Heaven measures success by what you invest in eternity. So today, love someone deeply. Walk by faith. Influence someone for Christ. Those are investments that death can never take away, and they will still be bearing fruit long after this life is over.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me that my life is about so much more than the temporary things of this world. Help me to love people the way You have loved me. Strengthen me to walk by faith even when life is difficult. Use my words, my actions, and my example to point others to Jesus. May I live each day investing in treasures that will last forever, so that when I stand before You, I will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In Jesus’ name, amen.
