"What Is Your Life?"
Time is a blessing given by God to mankind. "Time is the
highway we ride to eternity. The way we travel the highway of time chooses our
eternity." Christians must make the most of the time God gives.
"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be
unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:16-17)
The question, "What is your life?" was used in James
four in a section of scripture where both the brevity and value of life is
discussed. "Come now, you who say,
Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy
and sell, and make a profit; 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." (James 4:13-15)
The question, "What is your life?" is a probing and
penetrating question.
What is your life from the standpoint of its past? There was a time
when you were safe spiritually. This
was during that time of innocence in your life when you possessed the
qualities needed by those that enter God's kingdom. (Matthew 18:3) This is that
time before one reaches the age of being accountable, at which point the person
goes astray. In Isaiah 53:6 it is observed that one is not born astray but, at
some point goes astray. At the point one turns from God's way to his own way he
becomes a sinner. Sin causes many regrets. Past life, for the sinner, is that
time when neither God nor hope was possessed. (Ephesians 2:12) In 1 Peter 2:25 Peter looked at the sadness
of past life and also pointed us to the joy of present life. "For you were
like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of
your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)
What
is your life from the standpoint of its present? In the past life sin
had separated you from your God. (Isaiah 59:2)
In present life the key word is no longer lost but saved.
"Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ
by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:5) "Urgency" is the watchword
for those that are unsaved.
"...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2) The plan is simple. To become a
Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark
16:16), repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10),
and be baptized into Christ to be saved. (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21) God's desire is the salvation of all.
"Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) The blood of Jesus was shed for every man.
(Hebrews 2:9) True happiness in present life comes by being a Christian.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
What is your life from the standpoint of its future? Those who
die lost suffer eternal loss. "And these will go away into everlasting
punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46) Those
that die saved enjoy great gain. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die
is gain." (Philippians 1:21) Those that die in the Lord will be blessed with
entrance into the heavenly city. "Blessed are those who do His
commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter
through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14.) Christians have
great hope for the reward that they will receive from the Lord. "Knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you
serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:24)
Jesus Christ is the answer to the needs of the human soul. You
cannot change the past but you can be sure Jesus controls your present and
future. He will also forgive your past as you surrender to His will. One may
choose to live and die without Christ but it is certainly not because Christ
is not needed. Jesus Christ is needed for our past, present, and future.
By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P. O.
Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA