I wonder if you might sit quietly with me for a moment as we think together about this word: FOREVER. I know it is quite beyond the comprehension of either of us, but let’s try.

Thinking about forever takes us before the beginning of time and past the time when time itself ends; before the foundations of the world were set and so far in the future we could never grasp sight of it. Somewhere in the midst of all that expanse is where we are sitting at this very moment. A little bit to the left of that your great great grandfather may have been thinking about this same thing. A bit to the right, your great grand daughter may be contemplating it too and wondering where she fits in.

Wouldn’t it be something to have a family picture of EVERYONE in your family all in one setting? It’s rare to find a five or six generation photo. Imagine a family photo of the forty generations covering just 1000 years, or over 300 generations covering 8000 years or so of human history. . . Each individual living in each generation quite unaware of the influence they have on those that will follow in their footsteps.

And here we are, taking just a moment every now and then to reflect on the impact of a single life, and perhaps a single decision made on one single day of that life, a decision to live as if it mattered. Because, even though you might not SEE the difference you make, it will be revealed one day. And all the seemingly meaningless loose threads of this time will come together when the great tapestry of life is revealed. Maybe there will be a family portrait taken, one that includes not just parents and children, but friends and strangers whose lives touched and were changed forever by intentional choices to be the light of the world to someone else. Intentional choices that consider the interests of others more important than your own. Choices that reflect that which will last forever, not just that which lasts for a time.

Choose to remain faithful to today in a way that will impact tomorrow, and forever. Living beyond yourself with forever in mind is your legacy.

“In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.” 1 Timothy 5:25