08.20.26 What matters most? The older I get the more I think about this question, by Pete Jory

I’m not wealthy (at all) but I have everything I need. I have never lacked anything and I have never gone hungry.

According to my goals and purposes, I am successful, happy, loved, needed, and wanted.

I love people, and I’m loved by people.

When given the opportunity, I take vacations when I want, and to where I want.

I live in a house I love, with the people I love.

I’m madly in love with my wife, and I’m deeply loved by her as well.

Marriage is wonderful, work is meaningful, and my life is influential.

I could be wrong, but I feel like I have experienced the very best this world can offer. I am very thankful.

And yet, in the middle of all this goodness and blessings, I’ve watched so many people pass away. I have officiated many more funerals than weddings. I’ve watched so many people I love and care about disappear from this earth. And my observations of those facing death have led me to simplify people-types into two categories:

First, are those who believe their best days are behind them. They dwell on what they did and what they used to have. They are those that have loved this world and are sad to be leaving it.

Second, are those who believe their best days are yet to come. When they die, they are altogether different. They are not sad. They live and they die with anticipation, expectation, hope, joy and peace. They know there is more life to come and their life testifies with great assurance to this reality.

I have not made great decisions in my life. But I have made the greatest decision and the most important one. On June 5, 1994 I personally made a decision to trust and follow Christ. I have never regretted that decision. And the older I get, the more grateful and certain I become that I have chosen what matters most.

I know the best is yet to come!

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “whoever wants to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mt 16:24-26

– Pete Jory

Pete was our Youth Minister at Trinity Baptist when my youngest son Chip was in the youth group. His life had a big impact on many of us at Trinity during that time. He is still doing God’s work and we love him for it!