Only One Life...

In our small group Bible study, we've been studying a book called "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper.  It's an insightful, short read that gives the reader a good overall perspective on the goal and purpose of the  Christian life (whoa! broad, I know).  My Christmas present to the couples in our group was a plaque that was discussed in the book. Here's an excerpt.

"Another riveting force in my young life—small at first, but oh so powerful over time—was a plaque that hung in our kitchen over the sink....On the front, in old English script, painted in white, were the words:

Only one life,

’Twill soon be past;

Only what’s done

for Christ will last.

           

You get one pass at life. That’s all. Only one. And the

lasting measure of that life is Jesus Christ...

 What would it mean to waste my life? That was a burning

question. Or, more positively, what would it mean to live well—

not to waste life, but to . . . ? How to finish that sentence was the

question. I was not even sure how to put the question into words,

let alone what the answer might be. What was the opposite of

not wasting my life? “To be successful in a career”? Or “to be

maximally happy”? Or “to accomplish something great?” Or “to

find the deepest meaning and significance”? Or “to help as many

people as possible”? Or “to serve Christ to the full”? Or “to glo-

rify God in all I do”? Or was there a point, a purpose, a focus, an

essence to life that would fulfill every one of those dreams?"


-From "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper

On Saturday our small group had our last get together before 2 of the couples embarked on new adventures.  The Heindels are heading to Peru and the Thebarges have accepted an assistant pastor position about an hour away.  We will miss them greatly.

Our hope and prayer  at the end of our sweet time together was this: that all that we do, whether it be proclaiming the good news in Peru, teaching Christ to a small church in Kingston, ministering to students put in our care, or spending days in an office,  that all of these things would be toward one goal.  That we might learn to enjoy and glorify our great God.

I highly recommend picking up the book.... and if you're crafty, why don't you go ahead and make your own plaque?

Soli Deo Gloria