Hard Days
If you could communicate with a baby while it is still in the womb, how would you describe what was about to happen? How could you convince this child that they were about to go through something very difficult, traumatic even, and everything would change? They would no longer be always warm and well-fed. They would not hear their mother’s relaxing heartbeat all the time. They would have to leave everything that they have ever know. It will be hard, but it is definitely worth it. How would you possibly convey this to the child?
Life Plan
Jeremiah 1:5 (NASB)
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
God created everything, including time. He exists outside of time. He can see the beginning, the ending, and everything in between, yet He still allows us to make our own decisions, even though He has a plan for us.
Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
God loves each one of us so much that He has prepared a special “roadmap” for each one of us, with tasks designed just for us. Even though He knows everything that we will do, He never forces us to do anything. We can always choose to follow His path, or to follow our own.
True Riches
Revelation 3:17-18 (NASB)
17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Jesus told the church in Laodicea that because they were neither hot nor cold for Him, but actually lukewarm, He was going to vomit them out of His mouth. They thought that they were doing really well. They had plenty of money and good clothes. They even prided themselves on their spirituality. Jesus said that they needed something better – something far more valuable – something eternal.
The Value of Your Soul
Matthew 16:25-26 (NASB)
25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Since we can’t see with our own eyes what actually happens after this life, we might be tempted to say that it doesn’t exist. A baby might think the same thing. They have never known anything other than their mother’s womb. It’s all going great now, so just enjoy it while it lasts.
That might work for a baby, but God expects more from us.
Earthly Treasure
Luke 12:16-21 (NASB)
16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?
18 “Then he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”
20 “But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?
21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
There’s nothing wrong with having plenty of money, but if that is your main focus, it’s like buying a candy bar and paying $10,000,000.00 (10 million dollars) for it. You could do it, but why?
Your eternal life is priceless, worth more than you can even imagine. There is nothing on this earth that could even compare.
Heavenly Treasure
Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus is saying that there is a way for us to store up treasures in heaven – like a heavenly bank account. We would all love to have a bank account where we could get money whenever we need to, as much as we need. How about a bank account in heaven that lasts forever? That sounds like a deal. How do we open this heavenly bank account?
Heavenly Banking
Matthew 6:33 (NASB)
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The Christian life is filled with paradoxes. If we want to live a truly abundant, joyful life, one that will last for eternity, we have to die to ourselves and our own selfish ways. If we want true riches, we need to diligently seek after what God wants, not what we want. That is how we make deposits to our eternal savings account.
Forever Home
John 14:1-3 (NASB)
1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has wanted to spend time with us, to “hang out” with us. Jesus said that He went to prepare places for us to live with Him forever. This sounds like a great neighborhood!
So, how do we get started?
Forever Life
Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
We have all made mistakes – so many mistakes that we could never make them right. Only Jesus, Who lived a perfect life, then died for our sins, could forgive them. He then overcame death, so that we could, too.
Today, I invite you to start this new life, if you haven’t yet. If you have, remain strong in living for Jesus, enjoying each day that you have with Him, now and forever.
You can start by praying this prayer right now:
Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and made mistakes. I know that You died to take my place on the cross. Please forgive me now and make me clean, so that I can live with You forever. Thank You for Your promise to do this. Thank You for Your love. Help me to live only for You and with You forever, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Let Us Know
If you just made this commitment, or you recommitted your life today, please let us know. We would love to get to know you and encourage you. Click here to contact us.
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