“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT)
It’s an uncontested fact that every human being is going to die, yet every day we’re shocked to learn we have a terminal disease, or someone has died by an accident. Children are stillborn, yet some live more than 100 years, but no one escapes their inevitable appointment with their Creator. Of course, if Jesus returns for us before we physically die, that’s the exception, but for those without the Lord they are still without hope.
It seems in many ways that people should automatically know and realize that we each only have one life of undetermined length, but, at best, brief, as a rule not more than 100 years. And yes, 100 years sounds like a lot, but in comparison with eternity that has no beginning and no end, it’s a drop in the ocean. The issue becomes, what do we do with the one life, however many years we’re allowed?
Do we wait until we “discover” ourselves, determine what we like or don’t like; what interests us; what gifts, abilities, or talents we have; who we might meet and how they might challenge or direct us; who our parents are or aren’t, what kind of environment we grew up in; friendships we forged? The list is virtually endless of things that influence us as we’re growing up: Parents, teachers, coaches, friends, enemies, and on and on it goes, but ultimately, the proverbial “buck” stops with us.
We can make excuses for what or who we’re not or we can make decisions that will maximize the gifts, talents and abilities the Lord gave us and allow Him to shape us into the person He created us to become. Depending on what part of the world we grow up in, that can be easier said than done, but if you’re reading this you have a jump start on most of the people in the world. Why? Because you know that life isn’t, at its core, about us, it’s about life and death, lostness and found-ness, life WITH Jesus or WITHOUT Jesus, heaven or hell.
To be alive physically can certainly be challenging but knowing WHY we’re alive physically is the beginning of finding our way to Jesus and discovering life as it was always intended to be lived. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “…that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” So, the issue becomes, do you belong to Christ Jesus? You’ve either had a transformational moment in your life when you yielded your life and allegiance to Jesus, or you haven’t. This was an adult decision that YOU made, no one made it for you. Your infant Baptism didn’t do it for you or having godly parents, siblings, uncles or aunts doesn’t make you right with God.
The only way any of us can be in a right relationship with Jesus is by personally confessing our sin, yielding our will to His, inviting His Holy Spirit to take up residence in our heart and life, and choosing to invest our lives, for however long we live, in His eternal Kingdom. There’s no looking back! Every step is forward and upward as we’re led by God’s Spirit who now has residence in our life.
Yes, of course, our physical body will still die (unless the Lord hastens His return), but the fact is, though our body dies, our eternal spirit lives on with the Lord. That’s why those who place their trust in Jesus have no fear of death. We’ve already died, as illustrated in our Baptism, and have been raised to new life. We’re with the Lord from that moment forward and He’s promised never to leave or forsake us. Our job from that point is to exalt Him in everything we say, do, and think, seeking to please and honor Him and extend His holy Kingdom with every ounce of energy He gives us.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 