TRAVELLING TOWARD ETERNITY
"What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). Life is but a
vapor -- appearing, then disappearing. We are here but for a brief
time and then--Eternity. As each day arrives and passes, we draw one
day closer to eternity. The life we now live ends in death. What
then? The Hebrew writer states, "It is appointed unto men once to
die, and after this cometh judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Paul states,
Jehovah "hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in
righteousness...." (Acts 17:30, 31). Thus, between this life
(concluded at death) and eternity stands the Judgment Bar of God. I
shall be there. You shall be there. We shall render an accounting
unto Jehovah for the deeds we have performed while here on this
earth.
What shall be used to judge us on that day? "The word that I
spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).
"....Books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the
book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things written in
the books, according to their works? (Revelation 20:12). From these
passages it is evident that God's Word (as revealed through Christ)
shall be the standard of judgment. Man may not be willing to obey
God's word while here in the flesh, but he shall meet it in eternity.
Yes, we are all pilgrims (1 Peter 2:11) while here in the flesh
as we travel toward eternity. On this road we are determining our
eternal destiny. Where shall I (you) spend eternity? You (I) alone
will decide. Read, study and obey God's Word---you shall be judged by
it. Prepare to die (for we must), so you may live in God's presence
throughout eternity.
Jack Thompson, preacher for the White Park church of Christ