Take Thought!

Jesus often spoke in parables (Psalm 78:2) (earthly stories with a heavenly or spiritual meaning). They are found in the treasure chest we call the Gospels. His goal in these parables was to cause us to think upon our own lives. Even though some of us may live to be one hundred years old, what is that compared to eternity? Yet young and old live their lives with no thought of their eternal destiny – either Heaven or Hell.

In the Parable of the Rich Fool, the rich man was not thinking beyond his own desires (Luke 12:19-20). He wanted to accumulate more and more. His elusive goal was the fleeting realm of satisfaction. Billions today follow the fool’s goal – “If only I could….” They strive and strive and never see where they are heading.

The rich fool was caught in a pathetic spiritual mess when his time was up. Just when he thought he was “happy” --- his life was ended. When will our time be up? Will it be today or tonight or 50 years from today? (Hebrews 9:27).

There are two sure things in looking toward the future: (1) Either the Lord will return; then the judgment, or (2) We will die and our souls taken to Hades to await the judgment. Either way, the judgment day will come (2 Corinthians 5:10). The Lord may return today or 1,000 years hence. Even our troubles times are no indication of the eminency or the reluctance of His Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). It does not matter whether we die or the Lord returns, it will be a same: the end of our physical existence and beginning of eternity (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Yet what if I knew today was the last day of my life? Would I do anything differently? Now is the hour for us to reform our ways. Now is the day to choose that “narrow gate” and the “difficult way” (Matthew 7:13-14) which leads to eternal life (2 Timothy 4:6-8). ---Roelf L. Ruffner

---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets