The tsunami that struck Japan, Sendai, killed thousands. Many were swept away by the tsunami. One such family among several, however, managed to escape. The wife recalled her husband shouting from outside: “Get out of here now!” She gathered her children—aged two to six—and fled in her car to higher ground with her husband. She later said: “My family, my children. We are lucky to be alive.” She also said something significant: “I have come to realise what is important in life.” I believe she was referring to her family. Did she not know that her family was important? Yes, she had always thought so. But what she previously did not think so was that her family was more important than maybe (she did not specify) money.

My point is this: For some people, it takes a disaster before they understand what is important. Thus, if you are wise, you will be quick to understand what things really matter. First, things that last for eternity are important. I know of numerous people who turned frightened before they died. It is reasonable that they felt so. How can you not when you will walk death’s path alone and that you do not know where you are going. If you are wise, this is the first question you will seek to resolve. God’s Word says that we human beings have sinned against the Holy God (Rom 3:23) and will be punished for our sins in the eternal hell (Rom 6:23). We praise and thank God that Jesus died on the cross for you and by faith in Him, that is, by receiving Him as your Lord and Saviour, God will forgive you of all your sins and He will give you eternal life (John 5:24).

Second, you will never be satisfied if your life was not used to accomplish eternal things. Will you be happy if you used $100 to buy something that is worth only $1? If you do, you will say that you have been cheated. In the same way, your life is worth not a million dollars but infinity. If you spent you life doing things that does not have infinite value, you have wasted your life. What has infinite value? They are things that will last forever. If someone comes to believe in the Lord Jesus through you, you have used your life to do something of infinite value because that someone has received something of infinite value: eternal life and heaven. If a discouraged Christian brother or sister is encouraged by you to love the Lord more, you have also used your time which is your life to do something of infinite value: That Christian brother now has a good relationship with the Lord. He will be blessed by the Lord. You have been instrumental in helping him receive something of infinite value: God’s blessings. You have used your life which is of infinite worth to bring him God’s blessings which are of infinite worth. You have not wasted your life.

If, however, you spend your time which is your life to earn lots of money and enjoy life, you are a fool because you have used your precious life which is of infinite worth to exchange for things that have a far less value because all the money and enjoyment do not last forever. Jesus says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33). Use your life to serve God and God will also give you all things that are good. How is that so? Everything that you do, including your recreation, should have one purpose: to bring lost souls to Christ and to build lives. For instance, you rest and enjoy recreation so that you can be energized to serve God better. Honour God and God will honour you.