January 21, 2026

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness.” – 2 Peter 3:10-11

Last night I talked with some friends whose barn had just burned to the ground. They lost hay, tools, ATVs, as well as 4 adult and 9 baby goats. The next morning, they woke up to realize that the intense heat from that fire ignited another fire inside a metal shipping container next to the barn. They called the fire department again to extinguish the second blaze. In that fire, they lost photo albums, childhood memorabilia, and family heirlooms. We spent some time in prayer asking God to provide for their needs in the midst of the loss and thanking God that both parents and their two children were all safe. Right after my time with them, I asked myself, “what would I do in that situation?” How would I feel? How would I act? What would I do if that had happened to me? Then I came to the harsh realization that it will happen to me.

When the day of the Lord comes, all the earthly things I depend on and all the physical things I hold dear will be destroyed. All that will be left are the deeds I have done for God and his Kingdom. In light of this truth, how should I live my life? If we live every day with a godly mindset, focusing on how all our decisions will glorify God and point others toward him, then we will be ready. I thank God for his earthly gifts. I pray he continues to watch over the things that I hold dear. But I also hope that my grasp on the things of this earth never keeps me from reaching out to take hold of the things of heaven.

Lord, I thank You for all of my earthly blessings. But I pray that my focus always remains on the incredible spiritual blessing of the Kingdom that will never perish, spoil or fade. Please help me to concentrate on the things that will remain long after the final fire has come and gone.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon