A few years ago the word 'eternity' appeared on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to honour a man who had gone around Sydney for years with a piece of chalk (I think), writing the word eternity on the pavement. He did this to get people to consider what eternity would mean for them.
This past week I attended a seminar in the village here which addressed the subject of getting your affairs in order for when you leave this earth. Lots of good practical suggestions that help others to manage our affairs after we are gone. The presenter mentioned a number of ways we speak about someone dying without saying as much.....just like I have done twice already in this paragraph. The thrust of her message was about being prepared to die.
Being prepared for anything takes time and thought and energy. Tomorrow evening friends are coming for dinner; I have thought about what we would have, purchased the meat and planned the menu. I won't leave it till 4 pm tomorrow to think about throwing something together because I value them and want them to enjoy their time with us. I also want to be able to enjoy the time we have with them.
There is another important aspect to preparing for our death and few want to discuss it. It all depends whether you want to take a chance that there is nothing 'on the other side', or if there really is something more that we need to consider. Jesus told a story about a rich man who had a great harvest for which he needed to build new barns to hold it all. Then the man decided he could sit back and enjoy life, but that very night he died. Jesus called the man a fool because he had only been concerned with life of earth and had not given thought to life after death.
This life is short but eternity is forever and ever. Eternity is where God lives and each of us will have to give account to God for how we have lived our lives. Whether we have lived for ourselves and our own gain or, in such a way as to include God and honour his plans for our life. There is no better day than TODAY to take time to speak to God about what comes next. Not one of us are guaranteed a tomorrow in this life. Are you prepared for eternity?
Just as it is appointed once for each person to die, and after death the judgement. Hebrews 9:27
PRAYER: Dear God, help me to understand what you require of me. Show me how to live well and be prepared when the time comes for my death. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live a life that pleases you and prepares me for eternal life. Amen
