Fifty Years From Now

Fifty Years from Now

My sister and I visited a local frame shop with my two diplomas in hand—degrees earned more than thirty years apart. She had offered to frame my new master’s diploma as a graduation gift; I was planning to redo the old undergraduate certificate so it wouldn’t look shabby next to the new one.

As we considered different combinations of mats and frames, the lady helping us noted that one kind of mat was more archival and would not fade as my old one had. In the moment, it occurred to me that in another thirty-five years, that fact won’t matter to me at all. I won’t likely be here—and if in God’s providence I am, I don’t imagine a little mat fade will be a bother.

The day after our frame shop visit, my home church celebrated its twentieth anniversary—and the title of the morning sermon gave me pause. “Fifty Years from Now,” the bulletin read. And again, I thought, I won’t be here. I’ll be home. Although I have the sense that God still has much to do in me, I know I’ve spent more time in this place than I have left to spend. And that fact does not vex me. I like my final destination; it gets sweeter by the day.

While some folks with more miles behind them than before enjoy looking back, I am decidedly focused ahead—and the question I’m asking is this: What can I leave behind that will be a joy to others in the years to come? I want to steward my gifts so that someday someone I’ve never even met will be blessed by them. To assure my nieces and nephews, their children, and the children of my dearest friends that there is no better life to be had than a life of following hard after Jesus. Fifty years from now, I want what I’ve done with this day to glorify my King and point to him like a compass points north: beautifully, consistently, without apology or fail.

O nations of the world, recognize the LORD; recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong. Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!

Psalm 96:7-8