YOLO

Driving behind a little VW Bug the other day, I noticed the brightly colored "YOLO" sticker on their back bumper. It was decorated with flowers and butterflies much fitting a Bug, I thought. Did make me wonder however if they were a safe person to be driving behind... (just kidding)

YOLO, if you aren't aware, stands for "You Only Live Once".  It is an expression that became popular about ten years ago and for a while showed up all over the place. The philosophy of YOLO is that we should make the most of every day without concerning ourselves as much about the future. It is sometimes used as a rationale for reckless and risky behavior.

Adages like this one encourage us to embrace life and live it to the fullest. This is a common philosophy in our culture. Browse the internet and you can find articles or links or books on the things you must do or the places you must visit before you die. We frequently talk about our bucket lists. We seize opportunities because, well, we only live once, and we want it to be good. We want to get the most out of life as we can.

We justify eating an extra piece of cake or going on an expensive trip or buying a lavish new toy we can't really afford because, "Well, you only live once!" We make decisions about our behaviors and our relationships and our work on this philosophy, seeking to enjoy all this life has to offer.

Perhaps in part our obsession with living life to the fullest is actually an obsession with the temporality of this life. We know we will all die one day, and it scares us. We can't control death, so we seek control over our life. We are propelled to take chances, look death in the face, grab whatever we can because one day... it will all be gone.

A question I've been wondering, though, is... is this a Kingdom perspective?

If I had a stockbroker, which I don't, but if I did, and he advised me to invest in cassette tapes (I was going to say 8-tracks, but figured not everyone would know what they are), I would be suspicious. Cassette tapes are a thing of the past. It would be a futile investment with no return. A complete waste of money. Now, if he instead suggested investing in renewable energy sources or the latest in technology, I might be more willing because it seems like those things are not only here to stay - but will advance in coming years.

The YOLO mindset invests in today. In this temporary day to day existence. An existence which one day will fade away. Ecclesiastes 3:20 states, "All came from the dust, and to dust all will return."

In contrast, Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

There's even a whole parable about this in Luke 12:16-21.

This life is short. Temporal. 

Eternity, on the other hand, is loooooong. Our life on Earth will be like a single grain of sand on the beaches of eternity.

If we fully understood - and believed - how short and insignificant this life is in comparison to the eternity that awaits us, would we live differently? Wouldn't it make more sense to pour our time and efforts and energies into things that will last forever, rather than those which will be gone in the blink of an eye?

Perhaps instead of trying to hold onto this world, we should be investing in the next. We should be investing in things that are eternal.

What will last out of this world?

God.

And people.

That's it.

Spending our time focused on earthly pursuits is as useless as investing in cassette tapes. It'll all turn to dust one day. There are no u-hauls behind the hearse.

This is not to say we can't find temporary joy in the things of this earth. We can find immense joy here.

But the pursuit of earthly pleasures shouldn't be our focus. When Christians strive after wealth and power and influence, we send a contrary message to the world. A message that wealth and power and influence are what matter. That Earthly things are more important than heavenly things.

But remember - we are representatives of Jesus.

Jesus, who "made himself nothing" and humbled himself, even to death on a cross (Philippians 2). He gave up Heaven for us. Can't we give up Earth for Him?

Jesus calls us to something higher. Something greater. Something bigger.

To a Kingdom beyond this one. A Kingdom that will last forever.

Invest in what matters.