When you get up in years, when there’s more past than future to ponder, at least for me, I can’t help but wonder if what was done mattered.

There are those in a community who accomplish great things, or give great sums of money, who are remembered. Why? Because they make sure their names have been etched in as many places as possible. They call these people “pillars of society.”

Most of us will never do anything to warrant a special mention. We just come and go. At best, fond memories get passed along by the family, some quest or quirk. Beyond that, the only thing etched with our name on it is in a “gated community” somewhere, modestly hiding in the shadows of someone’s grand monument, who made one last futile attempt to make a statement.

But as a Christian, what goes on down here does matter to God. He’s especially interested in our faithfulness and our keen focus on his return, and on the effective application of our little strength on his behalf. In these actions we will get our new name etched on our own pillar in his new city.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. Revelation 3:12