My husband, Rick, and I had an opportunity this past month to visit Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. If you don't know, Graceland was Elvis Presley's home. We are not particularly Elvis fans, but since we grew up in the "Elvis era" and had heard a lot about his home, we decided to take the opportunity when it presented itself.
Graceland, Elvis Presley's home in Memphis, Tennessee.
The tour was very well done and quite enjoyable. It really laid out Elis' life in a very dignified and respectful manner. We spent almost 3 hours immersed in the life of the man who made Graceland his home. When we were finished, we had a pretty good grip of who Elvis was and what he had accomplished in his life.
I must say, that when I climbed into our car to leave Graceland, I was a little overwhelmed with all I had heard and seen. Elvis had accomplished so much in the 42 short years of his life that it almost made my head spin. It was difficult to take it all in. Here are just a few of his accomplishments: He sold over one billion records, had 149 songs appear #1 on Billboard's Top 100 Pop Chart, had another 114 songs appear in the top 40, made 31 movies, had 14 Grammy nominations, gave 1,100 concert performances, did three specials on network television with one being seen in 40 countries by 1.5 billion people.
Just one of several rooms where Elvis' Gold and Platinum records were on display.
Because of all of his accomplishments in life, Elvis was a "Star" in the world's eyes. He was idolized and even worshipped by some. When I was in my twenties, I worked for a lady who was the President of the local chapter of The Elvis Presley Fan Club. She was consumed with Elvis and constantly talked about him. She truly worshipped him.
On our way home, I began to think about what I had accomplished in my life; being a wife of 40 years, mother to three children and homeschooling them for 17 years, active in my church loving Jesus with all my heart and committing to sharing that love with everyone that I can. In the world's eyes, these are "small" accomplishments, but in God's eyes they are "BIG" accomplishments. In God's eyes, I am a "Star."
And then I began to think about what the Bible says about our accomplishments in life. I Corinthians 3:12-15 says, "No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss." All of Elvis' accomplishments will be tested by fire one day. All my accomplishments will be tested by fire one day. All of your accomplishments will be tested by fire one day.
If you are a child of God, accomplishing much for the Kingdom by living a righteous live, investing yourself in your church and others around you with the love of Jesus, then you are a "Star" in God's eyes. Your accomplishments will survive the test of fire and you will received a reward. The world may tell you that your accomplishments are "small" but God will tell you that your accomplishments are "BIG" and you will "shine like the stars of the universe". "Do everything without arguing or complaining so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like the stars in the universe." Philippians 2:4-16.
If you are struggling with worldly accomplishments, it's not too late to change those worldly accomplishments into Godly accomplishments. It's not too late to become a "Star" in God's eyes. It's not too late to receive your reward in Heaven. Turn to God's Word and commit to living a Godly, righteous life, so that your accomplishments will become Godly accomplishments and you will "shine like the dawn". "Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:5-6
Encouraging You Today With God's Word!
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