Transformational Thought
Many people die prematurely from suicide, accidental overdose, drug addiction, car accidents, and the all-too-frequent cancer. So many funerals and so much sadness. I have noticed an interesting phenomenon at funerals lately. If you believe what people say at funerals, no one ever goes to Hell. I’ve never heard anyone give a eulogy and say, “My father did some nice things, but was a handful to deal with, wronged a bunch of people, and he will spend eternity in Hell. Where will you go? Will you live forever in Hell with my dad, or go to heaven when you die? ”
I’m sorry to be so blunt, and I certainly don’t want to scare people or hurt anyone. But really, this is the “for all the marbles” question. Have you ever really thought about eternity? I’ve been thinking about it ever since I was a kid when I realized people actually die and leave this earth. Where do they go, and more importantly, why will they go there?
Many times, we hear Christians talk about life on earth compared to eternity. They’ll say this life is “as quick as the blink of an eye.” Our “time on earth certainly is short compared to eternity.” And the “way we spend this time determines how we will spend eternity.” The material things we accumulate in this life have no value in eternal life. Yes, our time on earth is very important but it’s just a small stepping-stone on the path to our final destination, eternity. When we don’t know Jesus, we make choices as if this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to the biggest part of life – eternity.
If you start to view all that happens from an eternal perspective, you’ll find that both your values and your decisions begin changing. If you aren’t a believer in Jesus as your Savior, you have the biggest, most life-altering decision to make, the one that affects where and how you spend eternity. Please don’t put off this decision, because you never know when your time on Earth will expire. If you do believe in Christ as your Savior, you will be in heaven for eternity. How amazingly awesome and freeing … yet, it is sometimes difficult for me to fathom as I still get caught up in valuing material or relational gain over Godly living with an eternal perspective.
Does the way you live life now help others realize the ultimate eternity-determining decision they need to make? Sure, you might be a good person. But are your daily activities simply making this earthly life more comfortable for you … or are you out there in action and word, sharing the good news and affecting the eternal destinations of others?
Today, don’t just accept Jesus as your personal Savior, but make Him the Lord of your life … of all you do and every decision you make. This is what Jesus calls everyone to do. God has put people in your life with whom you are to build deeper relationships. So be a Lighthouse! Share the Good News by sending this Stepping Stones to someone God has in your life. Be salt and light! Whether you are being salt and light and influencing others or you are just letting them die and be eternally without God, is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I come to praise You and give You glory. I come to You confessing that I do not have the eternal perspective that I want to have or should have. I thank You for my salvation and for those You brought into my life who have spoken to me about eternal things. I know Your Holy Spirit changes hearts and opens eyes. And I also know You want to use me … that I have a role to play helping others to spend eternity in Your presence. Lord, please help me let go of all the things I cling to in this temporal world. As I release my grasp on those “things”, I can to take hold of Your hand as You guide me to help others understand the eternal home You have promised all believers. I pray, Father, that as I experience suffering and the storms of this temporal world, that You help me shift my focus to eternity … my ultimate destination. I pray this in the name of my ticket into eternity, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Luke 11:34-36
