What Really Matters
By Colin Stewart

Let's take a look at this question:  What really matters?  Why is it so important?

To many people, money is what matters.  Without money, they feel that they are nobody.

To others, possessions matter.  The biggest, most expensive house, in the most upscale neighbourhood.  The biggest, most expensive SUV, or luxury car.  The biggest TV.  The biggest boat, and the biggest cabin (mansion?!) on the lake.

To others, salary is what matters.  This ties back into money, but it's not having the most, it's having the highest.  They strive for the highest salary in the company.

What about position?  Yes, that matters, too.  Who holds the highest position in the company?

Maybe it's good looks.  Now, here's a good one.  Probably the most profitable business ever is the fitness club, and the company producing beauty products.  I see it often, at work.  People order pills to enlarge their bust.  They order pills to make hair grow back.  Vanity is big business, in our culture.

Or, it could be popularity.  Who has the most friends?  Best reputation?  No wonder our schools have so many bullies, the popular kids bully the unpopular kids, to beat them down, and make themselves look better.

When it comes right down to it, though, all of these things amount to nothing, because you can't take them with you when you die.  Let's face it, we are all going to die some day.  What will we do with all that money?  With all those possessions?  With our good looks?  With our popularity?  Did you know, that the things you leave behind, cost your next of kin dearly?  They will probably lose 50% of their inheritance to tax.  What's the point?!

The other problem is, when we die, we will stand before God.  God won't reward us for our stuff.  Our reputation.  Our good looks.  Our status.  No, we will be judged for our actions.  Now, you may ask, by what standard will we be judged?  Perfection.  Let's face it, none of us is perfect.  We ALL will fail, on our own merit.  That, dear reader, is where Jesus comes in.  You see, Jesus came for one reason, and one reason alone.  To die.  His death on the cross paid the price for our imperfection.  For those of us who have chosen to follow Him, when we stand before God, He sees not us, but Jesus.

It was there that Jesus died.  It was there, He bled.  It was there, prophecies were fulfilled.  It is there that the penalty is paid.  It is there where we find true worth.  Where we find true riches.  It is the centre piece of history.

What really matters?  The cross.