How can we live a better life? Could it be that we need a better job or more money? Perhaps we need new friends?
Our society seeks the better life in these and other things. Now, there is nothing wrong with a better job, making more money and having new friends, unless they are all we live for.
We must see that these are not the most important things in life. In fact, we should realize that these things are only temporary at best. We need to be looking for that which will last for eternity. Here are a few suggestions for living a better life, in prospect of eternal life:
We need to realize the value of our souls. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells of the shepherd that has a lost sheep and how he goes to retrieve the lamb. Then he said, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Mat 18:14).
To God every soul is important. We, too, must realize the importance of the soul –especially our own. Our soul will go into eternity prepared or not. God cared for our souls enough to allow his Son to die for us. Surely this will cause us to place a value on our soul.
We need to comprehend the uncertainty of life. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
Life around us shows us the fact that everyone must die. It matters not the great plans we may lay for the future; death can come when we least expect it.
Jesus spoke of one who forgot to have God in his life: “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
This man was only concerned about the here and now, when he should have been preparing for eternity. This was a serious mistake, and it is one that many are making today.
Preparing should take on the atmosphere of the occasions when we get ready to take a journey here on earth. We make sure we have everything taken care of and have a feeling of excitement about the coming trip. We make sure we have all the things we need to make the trip. We make lists of things to be done, checking it often and making sure all is taken care of before we leave.
Have we made sure we have all we need to make the trip into eternity? Have we checked with the book that contains the instructions to assure we arrive at the proper destination? Are we excited at the thought of spending eternity in heaven? If not, we should be!
Paul spoke of it in this manner, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better …” (Phil 1:23).
If we are preparing for eternal life, our life here will be better for we will not hold this life quite so dear. Turn to God, study his word and obey his word. Believe in Jesus as God’s Son, repent of your sins, confess Jesus as God’s Son, be baptized for the remission of your sins, then remain faithful to God. You can have a better life, but the choice is up to you.