Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man (1 Kings 2:1-2)
It becomes more clear daily to me that many people are not living life in view of eternity. If they were our buildings would be full and new congregations could be established even, but most keep the idea of standing before God in judgement far from their mind even though it is the most sure thing in our future. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”.
One may be trusting in the fact that they are comfortable in life. We are continually warned not to trust in financial prosperity (1 Tim 6:17). The Bible points out here that we are banking everything on something that is so uncertain. I recently read that one family controls many of the banks on earth, but this will gain them nothing living apart from the will of God (Matt 16:26). Also, these who pursue such, never have enough. Rather, those who pursue godliness are content (Matt 5:6).
Another example is one who trusts in physical wellbeing. Some think if they are healthy and well they have all the time in the world and can live without considering eternity. While we strive for and pray for health, in 1 Timothy 4:8, we see in the grand scheme of things, the efforts of such pale in comparison to pursuing after righteousness and exercising our lives in godliness so that we can live approved of Him.
Lastly, many look around and, in their mind, they see others who are “worse sinners.” They are okay and God will accept them because they are not as bad as so and so that lives down the street. Comparing ourselves to anything other than the Bible is not accurate (Rom 12:1-2) and it is unwise to ever determine anything by the standards of other human beings (2 Cor 10:12).
I use these three examples because, since I have been preaching at Wheeler Hill, members of our community have flatly turned down my invitation to attend here or study the Word, based on one of these ways of thinking. Let us all be praying our neighbors tender their hearts and begin living in view of eternity.
By Jason Barger