Introduction:

·          Illustration: Imagine you’re at your own funeral, and four people from different spheres of your life have been asked to make a few remarks about you.  What you want them to say can help you determine your purpose in life.

·          Live today like it matters for all eternity.

·          Proverbs 14:8

·          Today you can take charge of today and begin doing things to ensure that you get the most out of today, and in the process you will make your future what you want it to be.

Decide the kind of person you want to be—and do something today to make it true.

·          Illustration: May used the above funeral scenario at a home Bible study and received two very different answers from faithful Christians.  Each answer gave a clear indication of what the person valued.

·          2 Timothy 4:7 and Acts 20:24 show Paul’s main goal in life, and 1 Corinthians 9:27 shows Paul’s plan for achieving that goal.

·          Whatever you want to be true about you, do something today to start making it true.

Focus on what you want to give, rather than what you want to get.

·          Set your goals for living significantly, rather than looking at the reward you want to get.

·          Illustration:  May’s friend Brent pledged $15,000 to his church, so he worked hard, and made more money that year than he had any other year, and was able to fulfill his pledge.

·          If you are committed to doing God’s will in your life, God will give you a dream of what you can accomplish, and he will give you the ability to do it.

·          Illustration: Ricky Freeman is a minor league baseball player who will probably not go to the big leagues but is still happy with his profession.  He enjoys a local celebrity status, uses that to speak to churches and schools about God, and is having a lasting impact on others.

Look for eternal significance in all you do.

·          The key to living a satisfying life without regrets is in recognizing the eternal value of the little things you do.

·          Illustration: A newly widowed woman was having Thanksgiving dinner with her family, and her son said he was thankful for the time her husband had spent playing catch with him.  While her husband had done that to diffuse his anger when a client missed an appointment, he probably would have done it more often if he had realized its significance.

CONCLUSION

·          Illustration: At the annual sand-sculpting contest near the ocean in Newport Beach, California, talented artists create incredible art out of sand.  However, a few days later, those works of art have been washed away by the elements.

·          Our lives don’t have to be washed away and forgotten; they can be significant.