This Life Is Brief and Uncertain

You probably spend a great deal of time thinking about and preparing for your future, saving for your retirement and taking out life insurance, being two possible examples. This is, of course a good and responsible thing to do. But have you considered and made preparations for your future beyond this life?

Whatever you enjoy now, (e.g. Good health and prosperity) could easily fail you later, also you do not know how long your life will be. The Bible says, "Whereas, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a little vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4: 14). Don't be like the rich fool who said, "...Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat drink and be merry." But God said to him, "fool, this night your soul is required of you; then whose shall those things be that you have provided?" (Luke 12:19-21)

Death and Judgement are Certain

Two things however are certain, they are death and judgement. The Bible says, "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement," (Hebrews 9:27). It is essential then, to be prepared for these events.

You may then ask, how can I prepare for these events? Or, why should I prepare now? Well it won't be possible to prepare after you die, so this needs your attention NOW. Don't be caught out! If you were to die tonight, where would you be tomorrow? Many different views are held about what happens after we die, but there can only be one true answer, so you need to know the truth! Would you trust this to man or go to God's word instead? The Bible says "...The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and to those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). All souls will live forever, good or bad.

Seek Eternal Life, Not Worldly Goods

Rather than living only for today and the things of this world. Consider the words of Jesus, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:20). This reminds us of the need to attend to spiritual matters, as the benefits of these last forever, unlike the temporary things of this world.It is sin that separates us from God and prevents us from going to heaven, and all of us are sinners. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," also, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

To avoid the punishment for our sins and gain the undeserved reward, we need to be forgiven by God. In order for us to receive this we firstly need to believe in Jesus. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should n perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Secure Your Eternal Future.

Faith, however, has to be proved by obedience, God has always expected obedience. Jesus instructed, "He who believes AND is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16). Peter, following Jesus' instructions, when asked by the believing Jews, "What must we do?" Replied, "Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38).

We see then that not only is faith necessary, but also repentance and baptism. Faith alone is not sufficient. James deals with this in chapter 2 verses 14 – 26, concluding, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26).

It will be too late after you die, so you need to prepare for the judgement NOW. The truth is in God's word but you need to ac upon it, don't leave it until it is too late! Surely you do not want to lose out of the greatest reward ever or be eternally condemned by God. After all, IT'S YOUR FUTURE!

Listen to lesson “Life is like a vapour” X

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