Making Temporary Things Permanent (part 2)

Scripture is filled with stories of people who made temporary things permanent.

In Luke 16 Jesus tells a story about a man who was about to be fired from his job. Recognizing the need to prepare for the future, the man begins to trade his employer’s goods for influence and friendship with some of his employer’s clients. He recognized that he had a little time, and a little opportunity to turn what was temporary (his authority of his position) into that which would last longer.

And so trade he did.

The same thing is true for us as well…we have a little bit of time on this earth, we have access to a little bit of money and possessions, and each of us has a decision to make: will we pour our lives into things that are temporal, or will we trade what is temporary and quickly fading away, for the eternal.

Christ’s call is to “Use worldly wealth to make friends for yourself, so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into [eternity].”

Peter Buck (from my previous post) took something temporary and turned it into something more permanent. Everyday we have an opportunity to best him. In 100 years Peter Buck’s investment will be worthless to him. However, every temporary thing we trade in for something eternal, will be ours forever.

At the end of the devotion, I gave everyone a little reminder to help solidify the point. The bullet crosses (pictured above) were fashioned by a young Liberian named Michael in an attempt to bring some redemption out of the pain and suffering civil war brought to his nation (over 200,000 people were killed in their recent civil war). I hope it will serve as a tangible reminder that every moment brings with it an opportunity to trade what is temporary for what is more permanent.

Join me in asking, what temporary things would God have me trade in today for more permanent things?