What are you going to do with the rest of your life?

A question posited to us recently at an OPMF [1] Conference here in Port Angels, Washington, hit me right between the eyes. As a 75-year-old Christian man, my thoughts of this question had already visited and stirred my soul, but never hit home with any urgency until this last weekend.

At the most, I figure I’ve lived about 80% of my life. And here I was, at three-quarters of a century in years, finding myself all alone. It is just me and God. With His leading, I can’t help but think of what I will leave for posterity. How will I make a mark on society to prove that James Warren even existed? First and foremost, my kids are my legacy, and being the dad of those wonderful human-beings has been my greatest honor, blessing, and pleasure. However, I want to leave something personal as well for those who come after me for proof that “I was here.”

The New Testament book of Matthew chapter 25, gives us one of Christ’s many parables (metaphors) that speaks to my quandary of legacy. It speaks to all of us as Logos until we receive as Rhema. The point of the parables my brothers and sisters, is for Jesus to get to our hearts so He can change our lives.

v14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
v15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [Matthew 25:14, 15 NIV]

This not a parable about money, although in the natural, it could be. However, the Bible is a spiritual book, and Jesus speaks to us spiritually. Pay special attention in verse 14, to the word “entrusted.” Remember that this is a parable. What Jesus is saying here is, He entrusted everything He had to His servants. If I were to paraphrase this verse, it would read something like this, “v14 Jesus traveled back to the Father’s house to prepare a place for those He called and entrusted His Gospel of the Kingdom to them. v15 He gave friendships, relationships, marriage, and children. He gave abilities, gifts, talents, careers, health, His Word, His Son, and a ton more. Even monetary wealth.

What has Christ entrusted to you?

Better yet, what are you doing with what He entrusted to you? Are you putting it into practice [2]? Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit [3], on what are you building your temple. What is the foundation of your temple [4]? Is the bedrock of your temple, your relationships? Your career? Your health? The foundation of my temple is Jesus Christ [5]. God’s love is meant for all of us, but please forgive me as I personalize God’s love for me. God loves me enough to die for me even when I wasn’t following Him [6]. I am a treasured possession to Him [7]. I am a special possession to God [8]. Christ values me [9].

God not only entrusted me with 20 people [10] to whom to express God’s love but entrusted me to writing six books and a weekly blog for Him, for my brothers and sisters, and for all those who will read them. I pray that my writing blesses you all.

I guarantee you that Jesus’ teaching won’t change your life, but following Jesus’ teaching will [11].

The Father would have me say to you, “You are worth a Son to me [12]!”

In closing, let me pass on to you some questions that the conference posited to me,

“What are you going to do with the rest of your life?”

“What has Christ entrusted to you?”

“What are you doing with what He entrusted to you?”

“How do value your worth?”

“Are you living out your worth for Christ?”

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[1] Olympic Peninsula Men’s Fellowship
[2] Matthew 7:24
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:19
[4] Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 11:6
[5] 1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV
[6] Romans 5:8
[7] Deuteronomy 7:6
[8] 1 Peter 2:9
[9] 1 Peter 1:18, 19 NLT
[10] four children, six grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren
[11] Matthew 7:24
[12] John 3:16