Chasing the Grail...

"You must choose. . ." These are the words of the aged knight of valor spoken to treasure-seeker Indian Jones in the final installment of the the chronicles of the same. Jones, on yet another quest for "fortune and glory," is chasing the mother lode of all legendary artifacts, the Holy Grail. Indiana Jones' character is the pinnacle of what most men and boys long to be, an adventurer, explorer, fighter, lover and got rich doing it all. However, in "The Last Crusade," Jones learned the lesson that all would do well to learn, that "fortune and glory" is not where it is at.

I just began a new John Ortberg book, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, and as usual, God's timing is perfect. I have given the topic of good vs. better and better vs. best. a lot of thought recently. In his first chapter, he writes of learning the lesson from his Monopoly-czar grandmother, that regardless of how you play the game of life, the pieces ALWAYS go back into the box. The wisest human once wrote, "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher,"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NASB) I really think Petersen nails the same passage with his explanation in the Message, "Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That's what the Quester says.] There's nothing to anything—it's all smoke. What's there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it's business as usual for old planet earth."

You know those can be tremendously scary and hope sucking words. . . at least for those that are chasing things that are worthless. Most folks want their life to count, and although everyone knows that each of our conditions is fatal, we still live like we will live forever. The Scripture gives much space to this topic, and I have learned that what the Word spends a lot of time on, so should we. Christ speaks directly to this issue in Matthew 6:19-34 and Luke 12:13-21, and Paul has good words to say in his discourse on planting and building in 1 Corinthians 3:8-15.

Chasing the Grail is a vain pursuit. For as long as they have walked the face of the planet, man has chased the Grail. The obvious ones are money, fame, power. But there are other subtle grails that we chase: perfection in- jobs, health, relationships, society, politics, ad naseum. In the end, it's all forgotten, burns up or blows away in the wind. Whatever grail you have chased in the past, it is not too late to change direction. Pursue that which truly lasts. As Christ said, "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." To finish the quote of the knight guarding the holy grail, "but choose wisely...