People who are heeding God’s “wake up call” are different… odd to some people.  Those who are answering God’s call seem to those who aren’t to be a little fanatic or narrow-minded.  They make comments like, “Your son is so intelligent… why would he waste that by becoming a minister?  He should be a doctor or something like that!” (This was said by a church member to a church secretary where I served previously.).

People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries.  They forget that they too are expending their lives… and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted. (Nate Saint)

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot)

It is recorded in Matthew 6:19-21 that Jesus said…

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It isn’t a waste to see all our possessions and give them to the poor.  It isn’t a waste to leave the comfort of the United States to reach militant Muslims in Iran.  It isn’t a waste to become a physician and then serve for free in Africa.  It isn’t a waste to minister to less than 100 in a rural church rather than to thousands in a city.  It isn’t a waste to be a missionary… move to another country… and die there for the cause of Christ.  It isn’t a waste to think constantly about how you can honor God in your family, work, school, or recreation.

Every Christian is putting capital into their eternal 401k so to speak.  Whatever we give our life to for the 70-80 years we live will be paid back for eternity.  Christians who waste their life living for themselves and not God’s glory will enter heaven… but they’ll be smelling like smoke for a while!  Consider 1 Corinthians 3:13-15… 

Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Don’t wait for God to send you a serious wake up call… let His Word be the wake up call.  Live according to 1 Corinthians 10:31… “Whatever you do in word OR deed do ALL to the glory of God.”  That will take care of it all…