Heaven Or Cryptocurrency

The other day I found myself thinking about how little I know about the many things going on in the world. Despite being 76 years old and having lived a full life with a good education, travel, study, having interfaced with many people, there is so much I don’t know. 

I don’t really know much about our economic and political structures. I’m not that conversant about the variety of topics that others know about. My wife knows a lot about flowers and nutrition and basic health and child raising and much more. As I listen to my family talk about crypto currency, I feel like a new born babe who just came on the scene. My knowledge of history and civilizations is limited. There’s a war in the Ukraine, but I know very little about the Ukraine and Russia and why they are fighting each other. I know very little about energy… oil and gas and solar energy. I could go “on and on”. Sometimes I feel like a 3^rd grader sitting in the back of class looking out the window. 

So, what’s the problem here? Well some of it is a lack of basic curiosity on my part. I have had opportunities to learn more, but I haven’t put my mind and energy to it. Yet in my situation, I think there’s something else. I had a change in my world view in 1972. My whole thinking became reoriented  at that time. The Holy Spirit touched me and I gave my life to following Jesus Christ. The only thing that mattered was being a disciple of the Lord. Doing his will was the bottom line for me. Everything else lost its importance. I was finishing my M.B.A. and beginning my career. I worked hard and made good progress, but after awhile I just lost interest in becoming a Vice President of Pfizer and having a mansion and all the rest. I wanted to spend my energy for Christ. Even sports began to lose it’s pull in my life. All the rest of the many good things in life just didn’t have the pull for me any longer. The above is certainly a bit of an oversimplification, but I think it’s basically true. I decided to not immerse myself in the things of this world. 

Now one thing that you might surmise from the above is that I must have become a saint over these last 50 years. Yet, why haven’t you herd of me like you heard of Mother Teresa? Boy, that’s a really good question. Well, I have to confess that I’m still a sinner. As St. Paul reminds us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 8:23) Despite a life spent seeking to do God’s will, I am still very much a work in process. Nevertheless I have no regrets about that decision in April of 1972. I’m happy that I know more about the love of God than crypto currency and European geography. 

And I hope that one day when I stand before my Lord, he will be merciful and note that I didn’t bury the 5 coins he gave me, but worked to generate a return for my wonderful savior… not making another 5 coins but at least a few extra ones. (Mt. 25:14) 

If I had used my time better, I could have served the Lord and also studied and learned more about the things of the world; nevertheless, I’m not disappointed in my basic decision of trying to seek first the kingdom of God. One of my favorite passages is from Matthew’s gospel… ”but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be yours as well.” (Mt. 6:33) 

So if you’re looking to find out about cryptocurrency and the names of the flowers at Longwood Gardens, don’t ask me. But if you’re wondering if God loves you and will forgive your sins and is preparing a place for you in heaven, give me a call. I know the answer to that question… and the answer is  a resounding YES. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.: (John 3:16) And that is very good news.