We are not promised tomorrow

The shattering of the American Dream and it happens all the time. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, the loss of a child. Life’s greatest enemy, death. We plan for our future yet we are not promised even our very next breath. People work hard, make plans, save up for retirement, buy a big RV and plan to travel and see the world and BAM! They die unexpectedly and all the dreams and plans they had die with them.

Christians in today’s world keep to this theory of saving, investing and planning for their future. Yet in the bible, I don’t see anywhere that we are commanded to heap up treasures for ourselves. Much to the contrary, Jesus, in Luke 12: 13-21, tells the parable about the rich land owner who had an overabundance of crops and decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. Then said to himself, I have enough money saved up for a long time, I need to relax, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, You FOOL! Tonight you will die, then who will get your possessions? He finishes this parable by saying this is what will happen to the person who stores up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God.

Sounds like the anti-prosperity Gospel to me. So back to the original intent of this post. I know a couple who this very thing happened to. They both had great jobs. When they retired, they had made all these plans to travel and see the country. They had an only child who was the apple of their eye. One morning, he tragically lost his life. What devastation it brought to them. A little over a year later, the husband was out of town, had a massive heart attack and died.

All I can think is that, as humans, we make all these plans, do all these things, and don’t give eternity a second thought. Out of sight, out of mind I guess. But it’s the most important thing we should be thinking about and absolutely the MOST important decision we will ever make.

So my question to you is, what plans have you made that you have not consulted your Lord about to see if it’s in His Will for your life? After all, we are not our own. We were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and now belong to him and we are to crucify ourselves (the fleshly desires we have) daily and live our lives for him. He tells us to be watching and waiting always since we don’t know when he is coming back as we are always to be ready for him.

To the unbeliever, I ask you this, what plans have you made for eternity? It’s the most important decision you will ever make so choose wisely. You only get one chance to get it right.