It is appointed for mortals to die -Hebrews 9:27

College dropout. Fired tech executive. Unsuccessful businessman. These are the words that lead into a story about the death last week of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple computer.  I don’t know how much you know about Steve Jobs.  I knew very little until I have read and listened to reports of this death and accounts of his life.  The morning after his death I saw a clip from a speech he made some years ago to a commencement crowd.  Something he said in it has had me thinking.  He said to that graduating class, “I will soon die.”  He said that awareness made him make choices on the basis of what is most important.

Maybe it’s because it was my 71^st birthday but I’ve been thinking about what a difference that should make in all our lives.  In our youth worshipping and death denying culture not many think like that. 

I’m not sure when that speech was made.  But his appearance suggested he was already battling the cancer that would take his life.  But it really doesn’t matter.  Whether I have a terminal illness, or am 20 years old and live another 70 years, or whether I’m 71, the fact is I will soon die.  Life is short and so much which can fill our days doesn’t really matter all that much.

            As believers who are followers of Jesus we should have a clearer picture of what matters than most.  Right matters.  Success means very little.  People matter.  Possessions are worth little.  Most of all God matters.  Everything else is nothing.  To know and love God,  love people and live right are the things which should drive my life.

 Jesus put it this way:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” –Luke 10:27

Filed under: The Journey |