He grew up in the southern United States in a middle-class, church-going family. Baptized at age 9, he learned the teachings of Jesus early in life and started growing in his understanding. As he got older, he was successful in every way. He had good grades, a good reputation, and a dedication to serving in his church. He considered himself to be immensely blessed.
To maintain this lifestyle, he knew it would take hard work. After all, he desired to have a family of his own and to provide for them food, water, clothing, and shelter. He set his ambitions high because he had always been an achiever. He got accepted into an esteemed university and began excelling in his classes. “If I can get this degree,” he thought, “I will never have to worry about finding a job. I will always have income and security, and I will never have to worry about my life.” He remained active in the church and strived to pursue success in a way that would not compromise his beliefs. With great conviction and resolve, he was determined not to be conformed to the pattern of this world.
Graduating with honors, he signed an offer to begin what would surely be a challenging and rewarding career. His church held a graduation celebration to commemorate his achievements, and the pastor spoke at the event to praise the young man who had shown countless others a picture of hard work and devotion: “So many young folks nowadays just don’t understand what it takes to be successful in life. Standing with us today is an example for all of our children.” As the fellowship hall cleared out, one more old friend from back in the day approached to give his well-wishes to the accomplished young lad. Eyes lit up in excitement as the two had not seen each other in years. After a long embrace, the humble graduate felt tension that the whole night had been about himself. He began shifting the conversation to the recent activities of his friend. “I heard you have been involved in some sort of evangelistic effort recently! What got you in-“ His friend interrupted as if he could not wait to answer. “Dude, my life has been transformed. I have finally laid it down to run after Jesus. I have a new purpose of proclaiming the kingdom of God until there is no place left. Would you want to come with me some time?” He agreed to go but cautioned that things would be busy with work starting in just two weeks.
Two days later, a text arrived from his friend inviting him to go share the gospel in a neighborhood. He replied, “Sorry man – I have just signed the lease on an apartment and need to go get it all organized.” The two tried to connect again over the next few weeks, but there was too much to do to prepare for the first season of life outside of college. He worked diligently to settle down, grow accustomed to the work routine, and get connected to a small group at a local church. At a bowling outing with his discipleship group, he met a lovely girl who would soon become his girlfriend. She was similar to him in every way: driven to succeed, saved at a young age, and passionate about living life in a Christ-like way. After several months of dating, he bought a diamond ring and proposed to her against the background of a beautiful sunset. The season of engagement began, and it was a challenge to steward the little free time he had while planning for a wedding. The church he was attending began launching an initiative to equip every member to make disciples who make disciples. There was an urgency being proclaimed from the pulpit, and a large portion of the church began seeking the kingdom of God with great conviction. He would have joined, but the training for this effort was at the same time as his premarital class. A couple from his small group offered to bring him up to speed at another time, but every night was filled with building a playlist for the wedding or coordinating the seating location of the guests for the reception.
A month or two after the wedding, he ran into his old friend from high school yet again. There were stories of baptisms, churches planted, and unreached groups of people hearing the gospel all over the world. There also were new leaders, among whom many were children. These leaders were spearheading simple discipleship patterns to help people discover and obey God’s word. It was amazing to hear that the movement was multiplying! “I am so glad you have found your calling. God is truly using you,” he mentioned multiple times throughout hearing all God had done. His friend invited him to join in the effort to which he responded, “I actually just got married and need to be more intentional about pursuing and leading my wife right now, but maybe after we settle down a bit!” After they shared their goodbyes, he hurried off to go pick up the dog he had just adopted to be the newest member of his young household. He and his wife quickly got plugged in to a “young marrieds” small group and filled their time with work, community, and growing their budding marriage.
The newlyweds quickly began saving for a house after receiving promotions at work. The process was far more difficult and time consuming than expected, so they were thankful to have multiple other couples in their church group who could offer advice and prayer support after recently going through the same thing. It was a long period of searching and waiting, but the perfect house was finally found. It was in a good neighborhood only a short distance from both workplaces, and the schools in the area were well-regarded. This became increasingly important upon learning they were expecting their first child!
The couple quickly learned how to live in a constant state of fatigue, as sleepless nights became the norm with a little one in the house. By the time their second child came along, free time became a distant memory. The young father had wanted to go on the church’s mission trip overseas, but it just wasn’t an ideal time. The priority list of church, family, and work was more than enough to handle. Time flew by as the kids grew older and began to play sports and attend camps. When the opportunity arose to move into a larger house with a pool, it was a no-brainer!
Things finally settled down. Work was stable and the kids had a consistent routine. After hearing a sermon on the urgency of missions, the experienced father of two attended a disciple-making training led by his old friend from high school. It was phenomenal! He was thrilled to finally learn some of the tools his friend had seemed so giddy about for so long. A new group spawned from the training event that would cover the next steps and regularly go out to share the gospel. He wanted to join this group, but he had just started leading a different group through a bible study on finding your unique calling and purpose. The next steps sounded intriguing, but he knew he had a responsibility to the group God had already entrusted to him.
Sending the kids to college was no easy task, but it freed up more time to explore various ventures. He started a side business as a hobby and had great success! It required drive and determination, but he finally had the free time to do it. He was invited to be a part of a group focused on multiplying disciples and churches, but the extra time he had from being an empty nester was filled by the unexpected growth of his business. His lucrative career plus a successful side business equaled early retirement! He consulted with his financial advisor and discovered he had ample funds laid up for many years. After discussing with his wife, he made the decision to sell their house and retire to a beautiful home which they would build on the beach. It worked out so that the home would be larger than the one he currently owned, so this was a victory for the future grandkids he hoped to have visit one day. It was most difficult to say goodbye to his church family, but everyone was supportive and excited for all God had in store. While he would miss doing life with the folks he left behind, he looked forward to relaxing sunsets on the beach, eating seafood, and enjoying life. It would surely be a merry time!
He found a new church and was overjoyed to find that there were many other couples just like him and his wife. The nation had recently launched into chaos along with the rest of the world, so this would be a haven from the madness. Surprisingly, the most challenging part of the entire move was building the new home because there were too many impossible choices to make! He enjoyed the process, however, and joked with his new church friends about his lack of interior design skills. One day, he and his wife were deliberating over which countertop best matched the kitchen floors when THE SOUND OF A LOUD TRUMPET INTERRUPTED THE PLANNING! THE SKY SPLIT OPEN AND ONE SEATED ON A WHITE HORSE DESCENDED THROUGH THE CLOUDS!
The moment was a whirlwind! It was like being jerked awake from a deep slumber. Bewildered, he finally understood what the scriptures meant by, “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” He always thought this trumpet would be a much more relieving sound, but instead it signaled a moment of realization. He had always wondered why his friend from high school was so passionate about “evangelism” and “missions”, but in a moment it was all clear. The meaning of life stared him right in the face and everything else suddenly faded. Priorities were now evident. His career somehow no longer held value. His house somehow didn’t seem to matter anymore. His favorite team was in the middle of the playoffs, but it was safe to say the final game had already been played.
An expert in theology and champion of Christian living, he was caught totally unaware when eternity was brought into full view. Staring into the eyes of his Savior, only one thing mattered. The curtain was pulled back and he finally understood. While he was living in his own life story, God was accomplishing his purposes. While he was pursuing food and security, others were seeking the kingdom of God. While his pastor was parading him as an example to the children in the church, a young child in another country was persevering through a beating after proclaiming the gospel to his malicious father. While he was finding a job, God was stirring up a movement of disciples in the same city. While he was arranging his new apartment, his fellow neighbors were being baptized in the complex’s pool. While he was out with his singles group from the church, the since-saved bowling alley clerk was aching for someone to explain the gospel to her. While he was consumed with wedding preparation, God was consumed with preparing a bride of all nations for a much grander wedding. While he was in the “newlywed season”, God was in the discipleship multiplication season. While he was looking for a house, God was sending people to look for the spiritually hungry. While he was coaching his kids’ teams, God was using others to coach believers to engage new areas with the gospel. While he was tending to his business, the Master was tending to His. While he was retiring, God was still at work. While he was learning to invest in the stock market, others were learning to sell everything to invest in the one stock that would never spoil. While he was busying himself with his own house, the “house” of the Lord was being completed. He had intersected with the work of God on many occasions, but the course of his life was never altered. He was in favor of the movement but scarcely involved. The story of all of history had remained behind the scenes for so long until its grand finale was put on display for every soul that walked the earth. But to those who had aligned their life story to God’s story, this was a day of great victory and vindication!
Though he was in church every week, involved with a small group, and active in trying to be like Jesus, he was found asleep when the Master returned. He himself was saved by the grace of God, but he missed out on aligning his story to God’s story. The problem was not that he happened to be busy with work one day or that he had a wedding to plan. The problem was that the trajectory of his life never changed. His life was not marked by evil – he was leading bible studies, coaching his kids’ teams, and working hard to grow in his marriage. These were all gifts from God himself. But his life remained his. He refused to lay it down, and the needs of his own life story always took precedence over the one thing that now mattered. It was as if he was a member of the championship team, but he had missed out on playing in the game. In fact, he did not realize the game was being played until the final buzzer sounded.
Many people will be like him on the day when Jesus returns. There will be a massive moment of realization from people all over the world who were not living in the context of God’s story. It will be like wiping a windshield clean so that the road is plain to see. All in a moment, the fleeting desires and cares of this world – even the things which are considered good – will pass away. Since all these things will happen, won’t you have your moment of realization now? Won’t you lay down your life story to live for God’s story, waiting for and hastening the day of Christ’s return?
Scripture References
Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' Luke 14:16-20
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Haggai 1:7-9
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life-such a person cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” Matthew 21:28-31
“ The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come…But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business…” Matthew 22:2-3,5
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "LORD, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, LORD; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21
Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes…You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Luke 12:35-37,40
It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. Mark 13:34-37
Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Psalm 39:4-6
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Psalm 49:16-19
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” … The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:4,9-10
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” 2 Peter 3:11-12