Now or Later

Proverbs 23:17-18 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.

What have we accomplished in life thus far? Will we be able to look back on our lives and say, "Lord, I accomplished everything You wanted me to"? What if today was our last day here; could we honestly say that we have lived for Jesus, or would we have to admit that we have wasted our life on self and the pursuit of the things the world has convinced us are important? Have we wasted life pursuing the things that the Lord never meant for us to have? Are we so focused on what others have, who are not living for Jesus or may not even know Jesus, that we have lost sight of why we are here, and what it is that we are supposed to be doing? Today we are reminded that this life is not it. What I mean is that life on earth is temporary, and it will pass like a vapor. Those who are living for "now", for the instant gratification of material gain, fame, and fortune, while living a wicked and corrupt life, will one day be no more (Psalms 37:35-36). For us, the children of the Most High, we will inherit the earth. In Christ, we already have Heaven; it is our home, and with it are promises of great rewards for those of us who lose our life here for Jesus. We are not to live for "now", but live for "later". We are to live now with the future in mind. We are to strive to serve Jesus, for His glory, gathering treasures in Heaven, where we will enjoy them eternally. The unsaved, with all their riches, and prestige, have no hope. We, on the other hand, have a Living Hope! That is where our focus and attention must be. We need to forsake friendship with the world, and the pursuit of empty rewards that will one day perish. How much of all that we have gained here can we take with us when we die? Nothing more than the clothes, jewelry, and other keepsakes they might put in our coffins; which is right where these things will remain. The rest of what we have gathered, regardless of how much or little, will go to someone else who will likely squander it. Let us live for the eternal. Let us work to bring souls with us. Let us love God and love our neighbor in such a way that every day, with every interaction, we gather more heavenly treasure than we can ever imagine. One day, our life here will end; either in death, or the rapture. Either way, it will be over for this life. However, when we stand before Jesus in our next life, it will become evident as to whether we lived for "now" or "later".

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).