My husband has always admired the big maps of the United States that you’d see adhered to the side of a motorhome. Anyone could tell where the vehicle had been just by looking at which states were colored in. So when we acquired a motorhome many years ago, I thought one of these maps would make a perfect gift for my hard-to-buy-for husband.
I went down to the local RV dealership, but after finally finding a man to help me and explaining what I was looking for, I was told that he had no idea whether or not they sold them. He did inform me that he could find out. His “finding out” reminded me of something one of my children would’ve done, for it entailed him opening a door and yelling, “Hey Joe! Do we sell any of those things we’re always scraping off the sides of these motorhomes?”
Immediately two thoughts came to mind: One, this man is obviously not a salesman; and two, I’m not even sure I want this anymore. Suddenly it seemed futile. Why spend money on something that would eventually end up scraped off onto the floor of an RV dealership?
I don’t want to waste my money, and I certainly don’t want to waste my life. Yet how often do I spend time on things that really aren’t going to make a difference in the scheme of all eternity?
“In the scheme of all eternity.” This is my new measuring stick used to determine if something is worth investing my time in. Scripture tells us that there are three things that are eternal:
- God (Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come ~ Revelation 1:4)
2. God’s Word (The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
~ Isaiah 40:8)
- People, who either spend an eternity with God or an eternity separated from Him. (Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. ~ Daniel 12:2)
I realized I had it all backwards. Many things that I wanted to accomplish didn’t really matter in the scheme of all eternity. They’re like that map, scraped off and lying on the dealership floor. There’s no lasting value. What matters is the time I spend with God, in His Word, and ministering to people. Investing those things that I didn’t feel I had anything to show for afterwards are really the most important things to be investing in. Maybe that’s why Paul said we should, “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve been caught up in things that really don’t matter. Help me to invest my time on those things that matter “in the scheme of all eternity.”
I need to copy your end-of-post prayer, print it, and hang it in every room of my house, most especially above my computer! Because I am disabled, pretty much home-bound, and unable to be physically active, I spend much of my time keeping my brain active, studying all sorts of things through my large collection of books and my infinite "collection" of websites. I cannot travel via an RV, but I travel far and wide, back through history, forward into the future by way of the internet. I learn a lot, but it's very easy, as I move from site to site, to be distracted by time-wasters.
I came across this post while in the process of looking for some specific maps -- but not, as one would assume, given the topic and graphic of this post. No, somehow -- I don't even recall now just how -- ended up on Beverley's site, where I had been intending to go back for "Pink Saturday" (very pleasant pastime, but I can easily waste an entire day with that!) and this being Sunday, I first saw her link to Charlotte's "Spiritual Sunday", which led me to your blog, and of course, with maps already on my mind, I was naturally attracted by the map in your right margin! So your message here is very timely for me. In this case, however, my wanderings turned out to be a good thing.
Related to your opening paragraphs, though, it did occur to me to wonder whether you have ever considered a more permanent way of documenting and displaying your travels. Have you ever thought of making a flag that could be displayed as soon as you stop anywhere? Waterproof markers could be used on a heavy fabric to draw the outline of the US and its states, coloring in the states you have visited. But this could serve another purpose, too. Symbol of faith -- dove, cross, etc. -- could be added, along with a favorite scripture. In fact, any of the four verses you quote here seem particularly appropriate, most especially the first, with its greeting to all people, as well as recognition of our Lord. Because although we are to "fix our eyes ... on what is unseen", sometimes it helps to see reminders of what is unseen.
I'm coming here from Spiritual Sundays and while I totally could relate to the post about being the worst. parent. ever. (Our son, daughter-in law- and their giant puppy have been living with us for 3 months until they close on their new home...yes, there have been moments)but I also totally loved this post. I love those types of maps too, but mine is on the wall in my office, with all the places we have visited highlighted. Easier to clean up when I tire of it!