What's on Your Bucket List?

Before it was called a bucket list people would just say things like, “Before I die, I’d like to visit Rome,” or “I’ve dreamed of skydiving all my life.” I don’t know who came up with the expression or when, but it boils down to the list of things you’d like to do before you ‘kick the bucket’; your bucket list.

People put things on their bucket list that are often adventurous, exciting, unusual or extreme. Yet, they are things that are actually affordable and achievable. No one ever places on his bucket list, peace on earth or pay off the national debt of the U.S. Those are unachievable dreams. Rather, you might want to, wade the headwaters of the Mississippi River, hike in the Appalachian Mountains, ride in a gondola in Venice, or juggle bowling pins.

Some bucket list dreams might be more noble, but the things generally shared by people are personal and self-centered. I wonder if anyone in Bible times had a bucket list.

I read the following about Abraham:

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

—Hebrews 11:9–10

King David had his eyes set on building a permanent dwelling for God to replace the tabernacle. Because of the blood on his hands, God would not allow it. So, David passed the task down to his son Solomon. (1 Chronicles 28)

The Apostle Paul had a keen focus:

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

—Philippians 3:8–11

And then, of course, Jesus...

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

—Luke 19:10

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

—John 10:10

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it up again.” 

—John 10:17

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 

—John 18:37

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me.” —John 6:38

The bucket list dreams of my friends and family pale in comparison to the visionary goals of these righteous men. Whether or not you have a bucket list is immaterial. All that really matters is whether you have your eyes set on obtaining eternal life. That is ALL that matters.

Mark Stinnett

January 22, 2023