“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” Luke 9:25

What is the point of life? Have you considered why we strive to get good grades, look nice, earn a lot of money, etc., if we’re going to leave all our hard work behind? What’s the point of success since we all die at the end?

Everything on earth, be it money or fame or our lives, even, is temporary. Jesus, however, is everlasting. He existed before the world was created, and He will exist when the world ends. Jesus is the One to whom we will give an account of our lives. He is the One who will tell us whether or not we have earned a spot in heaven. Instead of losing ourselves to the whims of the world that are here today and gone tomorrow, why not place our present, future, fears, hopes, aspirations, and success in Jesus, who is eternal?

True success is not gaining all the accolades the world can offer but finding our worth and identity in Jesus. True success is not being the wealthiest or most powerful but being known, seen, loved, and saved by Jesus, who died for us while we were still sinners. The things we chase after will never satisfy the way Jesus does—they will never make us content or happy. People drink, smoke, have relationships after relationships, slave away for success, and do many more things to fill the God-shaped hole in their hearts. But they fail to understand that we only feel peace and contentment when we give our lives, wholly and completely, to Christ alone.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He alone has the power to save us from the consequences of our sins and shower us with unconditional love. If you “believe in your heart that God raised [Jesus] from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9.

So what are you waiting for? Put your hope in the One who makes life and all our efforts meaningful.