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“The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:17).
Probably most of you have not heard of Sir Christopher Wren, for he lived back in the 17th century in England. But he became a very famous architect, and his ability was recognized when he was quite young. He was born in 1632, and after the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city in 1666, he was commissioned to design and oversee much of the rebuilding of it. Quite a few of the buildings he designed are still in use, including St. Paul’s cathedral and Kensington Palace. He is buried in St. Paul’s cathedral, and on his tomb (in Latin) are the words, “If you wish to see his monument, look around you.”
However, all these buildings are going to be destroyed some day, for everything man has built in this world is temporary. Only what has been done for Christ, according to God’s Word, will last for eternity. Men have spent a great deal of time and money building things in this world, but to do the will of God here in this world is something that the Lord values, and He will give you a reward that will last.
Jim Elliot, a young missionary who was murdered by Huaorani Indians in Ecuador back in 1956, made a good remark. He said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” If we give up the things of this world to live for the Lord, we will never lose by it.
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