Live With Death in Mind – Die with Life in View!
People want to live this life as though it is never ending and view death as a final destination. In actuality this life is but a limited time and space and death is our true transition to the eternal. We should live our lives with our ultimate purpose in mind, which is to reflect God’s glory while we are on the earth and with our eternal destination as our fore view, outlook and vision.
John 17: 3-4 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. NKJ
God made mankind with the intended purpose that they would live forever, but sin brought death and destruction into the world. Now life is but a fleeting moment or as a vapor that is there for a while and will soon pass. Fallen humanity tends to live life for the moment or just for the immediate gratification of its present cravings, desires and wants. Jesus is our example;He lived His life with death in mind knowing He would bring many people into the family of God while giving hope for eternal life.
James 4:14-15 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Jesus lived His life under the shadow of death knowing His ultimate end would be the death of the cross. This did not makeJesus morbid, dark or woeful because He understood His purpose. Jesus came to die with the purpose and knew He would have eternal life with God the Father and those who would come to God through faith in His life, death and resurrection will also have eternal life.
John 17:1-2 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
When we understand our created purpose and live life with eternity in mind then we can live a life that reflects and reveals God’s glory. We too can bring the saving knowledge of God the Father to those around us, that they may have eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God has given us blessings, talents and gifts that we may be blessed and be a blessing. God had given much land and houses to Israel but told them to leave the corners and the gleaning of their fields for the poor. God is not against us having more but He wants us to be mindful of those who do not have. Jesus warns us with the parable of the rich man who had plenty, more than he could store, but he decided to hoard his increase rather than sharing and helping those who were in need.
Leviticus 23:22 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.’”
Luke 12:16-21 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Life is not one bad action, misjudgment or a mistake made thatsentences us to damnation forever. Life is the sum of the choices of an individual’s continuous exertion, inclination orambition, which will determine their actions and in due course determine their destiny. Our destiny is not determined by some poor judgment or some shameful act. Our destiny is the combination of the decisions and the unceasing set of actions of our will, which refuses to receive the provision God has provided in Christ.
Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Life is a parenthetical set of time; it has a beginning and an ending. It is what we do with this life from our beginning until our death that will determine our eternity. Many will live this life piling up riches and wealth as though they will live on this earth forever and yet they fail to plan for where they will spend their eternal life and destiny.
Matthew 25:41-43 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ NKJ
We are to live this life understanding that death is our ultimateend on earth and it is a part of life. Living with death in mind it can teach us how to live a productive life on earth and can help us to live with our eternal purpose in view. Then we can makeour decisions based on the things that are eternal.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJ
Integrity- People of God 