We all like to make plans for the future. Plans to get married, raise a family, go on vacations, get new jobs, visit loved ones. Sometimes our plans work out and sometimes they don’t. We make our plans but God directs our steps. We often make plans for tomorrow without thought that tomorrow might not come.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” James 4:13-15
I was talking with a friend about making plans for the end of life. If you’ve ever done this, you know it feels a bit weird to talk about a time when you will not be alive on this earth. And it may be difficult to even approach the subject. But why should we plan for things that might not happen and not plan for that which certainly will happen? Death is the fate that awaits us all, unless Jesus returns for his followers first. Why not plan for it?
Marcia and I established our wills and living wills years ago and are giving those a review; also making sure we both know where important documents are, and the passwords to electronic accounts. Preparing for a most certain event makes sense, even while we live with great hope for tomorrow! But that’s only the beginning.
While it might seem unpleasant to talk about death, we who believe in Jesus need not fear it. The bible assures us that this life is only the beginning and a much more glorious life awaits us that will last for all eternity. It will be a life without tears, sorrow, or pain. Can you imagine?!
Yet, as wonderful as that will be, may I ask, “Are you preparing for it?” If you’ve made the decision to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you’ve taken the first step.
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
You don’t have to wonder if you will go to heaven. God’s Word gives us assurance of that.
But there is something more than a one-time prayer to ask Jesus into our heart and it centers around the word “believe.” The word actually is better translated “keep on believing.” Belief and faith are ongoing and active components of our lives. True belief will always be evidenced by our response. I can say to my wife, “I love you,” but the evidence of my love is in my actions, motivations, and ambitions. True love is patient and kind. It is not envious or boastful or proud. It doesn’t dishonor or belittle the other. It is not self-seeking but instead seeks to please the other. It isn’t easily provoked and it keeps no record of wrongs. True love rejoices in truth, not lies or deception. It always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. It doesn’t give up. (From 1 Corinthians 13)
If my bride is to believe my love for her, it will be evidenced in the expressions of that love. And so it is with our relationship with the one true living God. Our faith is expressed in actions of love. Jesus says whoever has and keeps his commands is the one who truly loves him. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror of his commands (love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself)? True belief is always expressed in loving ways. It becomes the motivation that greets us in the morning and leads us through our day. It constantly asks, “Is what I’m doing and thinking a way of loving God and others?”
By loving God and others, we also are preparing for our future life, eternity in heaven, because our obedient response to God’s shapes us into who he meant us to be and prepares us for that final destination. When I persist in being resentful, bitter, angry, begrudging, anxious, or fearful, it separates me from God, not draws me closer. True love reaches out to others with compassion and in obedience to his commission for our lives. Is your love for God bearing witness to others?
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:2-5
These are plans worth making and ones to guide our day today.
