Death is your “IPO”
Not too long ago, everyone was talking about the Facebook IPO (initial public offering). Will it go up? Will it go down? Will it go up, then up some more? Will it go down, then down some more? There was no way to know how the shares would ultimately be valued. You just had to wait and see.
An “IPO” is the ultimate dream of a lot of business people. It’s the ultimate payoff for years of hard work and risk taking. They call it “public” for a reason. Everything about your company comes out. Nothing is hidden. It’s all out there.
The first hurdle for an IPO is the Securities and Exchange Commission (The “SEC”…and no, it’s not the same “zebras” who called the Georgia-Alabama game!). The SEC decides “yes” or “no” on a company’s IPO. No company can bring it’s stock to market until the SEC says it can. Its value is irrelevant if it doesn’t pass the SEC.
Once that’s decided, the bankers guess the value the market will assign the company’s stock and set its offering price. The “audience” of analysts, business journalists, stock brokers, investment advisors and (ultimately) investors look at the offering with excruciating detail, examining every piece of data about the company’s past dealings, track record, strategy for the future, and potential upside. The first day of trading is “the day of reckoning”. The stock is sold and trading begins. The “audience” reacts, moving the price up or down with its buy and sell orders.
Someday you and I will have a personal “IPO”.
Our “IPO” happens when we die. That’s when God is like the SEC…He decides “yes” or “no”, based on our authentic faith in Jesus Christ and His payment for our sins. The price paid was so high we can’t fathom. It cost the Creator the life of His one son. His constant companion for all time. He had to watch His innocent son be tortured and killed. He had to be separated from Him for the first time ever, as Jesus lay dead in a cold tomb fulfilling the Scriptures so we’d believe He was the Messiah.
All the good intentions in the world won’t matter on our IPO day. It’ll be “go” or “no go”. You know Him or you don’t. Simple and straight-forward.
Once we’ve cleared “entry”, we’ll see how our work mattered. What created value. You see, our “audience” is actually God too. He’s our “market”….the only audience that matters. The only one it pays to pay attention to in the long run. Our reward gets decided by what we’ve done with our lives….how we spent our time, talent and treasure. How much did we love and serve others? What we did for “the least of these”? Did our hearts break for what the Father’s heart broke for? Did we move beyond “me and mine” and live as Jesus told us to?
And just like a company’s performance…everything will be public. In clear view for God to see.
Our potential won’t count for anything on our IPO day. Potential won’t be important because we’ll be living, working, relating and worshipping free of friction. There’ll be no pressure. No track record to worry about. It’ll be life as originally designed with God in the middle of it all.
Question: Are you ready for your IPO? What changes will you make in 2013? Please share with us here.
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Responses (2)
The timing of your blog for me is very interesting. I was just revisting the obituary aspect of the RMG application yesterday. Trying to see how I was measuring up to the bar I had set for myself. Using your analogy, I found my offering was not sufficient. I had fallen short. Oddly, I find my self almost grieving when I know I have not given my best to serve God’s purpose for me each day. The expectations we put on ourselves can be challenging.
Yet I love your comment “God is the only one to pay attention to in the long run”. Keeping our eyes focused on the one truth in this world. So the greatest news of all is that we have a God that continues to pursue, bless and love us unconditionally. He wants the best for us all.
Keep us encouraged Regi!
Thanks Chan…praying you’ll be all in for Him.