Have you got any plans? What about the holidays? Do you have any dates in the diary? These and many more questions are asked time and time again at this time of the year. The sun is out and it’s beginning to look like the winter is past and spring has come, so you can get your summer clothes out and plan. So, how are your plans going? For many people, the planning process and the expectation of holidays are almost as good as the holiday itself. I wouldn’t go that far, but I know what they mean. Anticipation and the prospect of getting away and enjoying the break can be very liberating.
Some people get to a stage in life when they feel they have nothing to look forward to. That is so sad, but I can see where they are coming from. If you think that this life is all there is, then it would be pretty logical to get depressed as you get older. Most of us accept that the ageing process will mean adjusting what we do to match our physical ability or energy levels. You can still live an interesting and exciting life if you keep the right attitude and take change in your stride.
I encourage you to think further ahead than just adjusting your behaviours to have a comfortable, engaging lifestyle in your retirement or closing years. We all need to think about what happens after we die. I am not talking about funeral plans, estate management or passing on your inheritance. I am talking about your destiny in the next life.
The Bible clearly shows that there is a life beyond this one. Death is not the end but you can be sure of your final destination. The Lord Jesus made a promise about getting into heaven to those who are willing to trust Him. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Putting that the other way round He is giving a cast iron guarantee that He can guarantee your entry into heaven at the end of life.
When Jesus was being crucified, he had a conversation with one of the two criminals who was being executed at the same time. This man deserved to be punished for his crimes but Jesus had never done wrong and so was dying ‘for our sins’. During the horrific scenes of suffering and death, both criminals initially screamed abuse at Jesus and their executioners. Eventually, one of them realised that the man on the centre cross was different. Why - for one thing, Jesus didn’t curse, swear or act abusively. In fact, he prayed for the soldiers who had nailed Him to the cross and asked His Father, God, to forgive them. As a result this criminal made a final request of Jesus before he died. He asked Him to remember Him in the next life. Listen to Jesus’ reply - ‘today you will be with me in paradise’. What was the Lord Jesus talking about? He was promising this man that the moment he died and left this world, he would be in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sure that you think that you have lived a better life than this criminal. If he got into heaven by confessing his need (his sin) and placing his faith in the Son of God, so can you. We all need the door to heaven opened for us. We have no automatic rights to enter heaven, but Jesus said, ‘I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved’.
Will you make good plans for the future? Remember, death is not the end. It is the door to the next life, and the Lord Jesus secure your place in heaven. I close with a final quote from the Lord Jesus Christ. He said“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
This is one question we all need to reflect upon and to answer honestly.
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
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