The “seed” for this article came from a message I preached in 2023, but more on that later. How many of us have a bucket list—things we wish to accomplish before departing this life? Collections? Projects? Adventure? Athletic goals? For where I live in Kentucky, perhaps my bucket list includes visiting all 120 counties, driving from Mary to Calvin, canoeing the middle fork of the Kentucky River from Buckhorn to Beattyville, and following the 76 Bicycle route from east to west across the state.
Some may have a religious bucket list, perhaps to attain a paid position as pastor, youth leader, or worship leader, preferably in a prestigious church, earn a seminary degree, and staunchly uphold and defend the traditions of the church fathers.
The Apostle Paul had a religious bucket list (Php. 3; Gal. 1:13-14) to be the best Jew ever. More specifically, to be the greatest Pharisee. He knew his heritage and ancestry. He was so zealous at being the best that nobody could find fault with him in any of the dozens of laws that had been given on Mt. Sinai, and he persecuted those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Paul’s bucket list could be representative of many Mennonites, zealous of the traditions of our fathers, knowing our ancestry, rejecting those who don’t have the right surname, shunning those who don’t believe as we do, and, although not going so far as to consent to their death, speaking critically of them.
Then he met Jesus, and he—and his bucket list—were completely transformed. A summary of his transformed list might look like this:
I want to know Jesus.
I want His righteousness (not my own).
I want to attain the heavenly prize.
I want you to know Jesus.
As I mentioned previously, the “seed” for this article came from a previous message, and for the past three years, a question has been growing in my heart:
Have I really met Jesus?
Has my bucket list—my passions, dreams, aspirations, and religious values—been as radically transformed as those of the Apostle Paul? Is knowing Christ Jesus far superior to Olympic gold, flying an airplane, restoring an antique, a Wagner cast iron cookware collection, or maintaining proper Mennonite decorum? Is knowing our Savior more excellent than acquiring a pastorate in a prestigious church? Am I truly hungering and thirsting for His righteousness? Can we picture Jesus telling us, “Except your righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees (church fathers) ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”?
One might also note that this new bucket list cost Paul his reputation, position, and income to follow wherever Christ led him. And myself? Do I say Jesus is first and everything else comes second, or, as Paul stated, “count them but dung?” (Some versions try to tone it down to make it sound more sanitary, but tracing the etymology of the word translated “dung,” it appears to actually mean dung, specifically, dog droppings). What now drives and motivates me? Knowing Jesus?
Jesus told several parables in which an individual found an exquisite treasure and sold everything in order to obtain that one treasure. He also said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also… No man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:21, 24a KJV) and “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
May our encounter with Jesus dramatically transform our bucket lists, passions, goals, and dreams. May He be that one priceless treasure.
Photo credit: AI-generated
