My kids and I were watching a “Christian” movie together one evening.  It was horrible.  The kids were complaining.  I wanted to complain.  I kept telling the kids, “It’s almost over, and then we will do something else.”

It’s that last phrase that I’ve been thinking about lately as I’ve been ministering to people in pain and preaching through 1 Peter.  “It’s almost over, and then we will do something else.”

Most church people have heard this idea concerning the temporality of this world a lot.  Yet, despite all the rhetoric, I along with many others still feel the magnetic pull of fame from this world.  A desire exists to be famous and live for the applause of others despite reality showing us that the applause does not satisfy. Nor does the applause last.

Recently, I watch an aged and feeble Yogi Berra, one of the greatest baseball catchers of all time and an excellent manager, at the age of 90 cut a celebratory cake with the help of an assistant.  I also recently sat beside an incredibly strong man who had built a small empire as he took his last breath while his family grieved and his body failed.

Life catches up to us all, and death tackles us to the ground.

For this reason, the preacher of Ecclesiastes writes:

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (Eccl 7:2)

Wisdom whispers in the house of morning. 

This world ends and so does its applause.  Prepare for the after show.

So, Christian, don’t strive to be the best selling author.  Don’t strive to build a crystal cathedral.  Don’t strive to be PTA parent of the year, coach of the year, salesperson of the year, keynote speaker, or convention president.

Strive to be a faithful servant of God in the midst of all seasons and all circumstances.  Live for the applause of heaven given to the glory of God.