Are you planning on living forever? Do you think this world will always be just as it is?
Such thoughts are portrayed by many today. They make no plans for eternity, just for the here and now. God’s word tells us about the brevity of this life. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
It matters not the great plans we may lay for the future. Death can come when we least expect it.
God has blessed us with the time we have now to prepare for eternal life. It is up to us to take advantage of these blessings. It is recorded in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 6, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Yet how easy is it to get caught up in life and forget this important message? It takes a constant effort to keep our mind on the goal.
Have we made sure we have all we need to make the trip into eternity? 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” (Philippians 1:23).
Paul was prepared for eternity. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness …” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Even if we do not like thinking about it, death is a part of life. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27).
It comes to those who are young, middle aged and elderly. It makes no distinction, it just comes. Those who are older realize the time of their departure comes nearer with every step they make. Maybe that is why those who are older seem more concerned about spiritual matters, than those who are younger.
Solomon wrote, “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
“In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 -5b).
The vigor and vitality of youth should be used in the Lord’s service.
As we go forth into this new year, let’s make sure we are prepared for eternity. Open God’s book find out what his will is and obey it.