Living for What Really Lasts
Insights From Vacation Bible School
When forever is in view, peace replaces pressure.
Victory and a Fall
“Come on, Bubba—hit the ball!” Eric yelled from the outfield.
It was the bottom of the ninth in our VBS championship game (at least that’s how we saw it). The score was tied, and Bubba—the biggest kid on our team—was up to bat.
Two strikes. Two balls. One more chance.
Timmy the Frogboy croaked encouragement from the sidelines:
“C’mon, Bubba! Winners get ribs!”
That did it. Bubba swung with everything he had, connected, and sent the ball sailing across the street. We cheered as he lumbered around the bases like a conquering hero—until he slipped on a red Frisbee just before home plate.
He scrambled up, dove in, and barely beat the tag.
Victory!
And a good reminder: you can win and fall at the same time.
The Game That Really Counts
Life feels like that game sometimes—messy, exhilarating, unpredictable.
We run hard, trip often, and hope to finish well. But the question is: what game are we really playing?
Is it Success? Popularity? Comfort?
Or something eternal?
I’ve heard people say, “Live like it’s your last day.” But maybe the better call is: Live like it’s your first day of eternity.
Paul reminds us, “We make it our goal to please Him… for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:9–10)
That’s not a threat—it’s an invitation.
To live for what lasts. To let our “wins” echo in eternity, not just here.
From Funeral to Forever
I’ve read books and heard sermons urging us to imagine our own funeral—to think about what people will say about us.
But truthfully, I don’t want to live for applause at my end. I want to live for joy in His presence.
Eternity reframes everything.
When you know where you’re headed, the pressure to prove yourself fades.
You stop sprinting for trophies that rust and start walking with the One who never fades.
Life lived with the end in sight becomes life lived with peace in view.
Reflection
What “game” are you currently playing—and does it matter eternally?
How might your daily choices change if you lived with eternity in mind?
What does “finishing well” look like in your season right now?
Prayer
Abba Father, teach me to number my days so I may live with wisdom and joy. Shift my focus from what’s urgent to what’s eternal. Let my life count for You—on this side of heaven and forevermore. Amen.