This fresh year lies before us. What will it hold for you? Frankly, you don’t know, and nor do I.
However, freedom of choice was granted to humanity at the beginning, and it continues. What choices will you make? Joshua’s challenge echoes down through the ages. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve!” He concluded with this declaration: “…as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah” (Joshua 24:15).
Today, I am issuing a challenge. Look not only at this year, but beyond. What do you envision for your after-death existence? Atheists smugly deny the existence of God. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; cf., Romans 1:20). The Jewish sect of the Sadducees denied the resurrection (Acts 23:8). However, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is our assurance of our future resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14; John 5:28-29). There is life after death. Many today ignorantly imagine that being “good” is sufficient to secure them a heavenly home. However, there is a response to heaven’s gift that is required to enjoy its benefit (Hebrews 5:9).
The apostle Peter wrote to Christians concerning their future inheritance. By choosing to obey the Lord, a place is “reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4). Some exclusive restaurants only admit those who have made reservations ahead of time. Heaven is similar. Only those who have a reservation will enter heaven. Heaven is a prepared place (John 14:2) for a prepared people.
Have you reserved your place in heaven? Read Matthew 22:1-14. Without proper preparation, we cannot enjoy the blessings God has in store for us. There will be no “tickets” available at heaven’s gate.
If we will look beyond this life it should influence how we choose to live now. We don’t know what time we have remaining on this side of eternity. What will you do with “the rest of your time” (1 Peter 4:2)?
