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Reflect
I love summer break. Our family spends a good amount of time planning our vacation.
We plan the time off work.
We plan our adventures.
We plan our packing.
We make sure the cars are in good shape and that our almost-ancient family boat is running.
We save up months in advance.
And then we go.
As strange as it might sound, part of the fun we have stems from the fact that we planned the trip. 2 Timothy 4:5 urges us to keep a clear mind in every situation.
A disorganized trip can kill the vacation – a breakdown on the road, not having the gear you need or even running out of money can make a vacation more than challenging.
Want to know what’s strange?
Most of us spend more time planning a one week family vacation than we do planning for our eternity.
I’ve talked to more than a few people who haven’t spent more than 15 minutes of their life thinking about what happens after you die.
That’s probably a bad idea.
As indelicate as it might be to say, you’re going to be dead a lot longer than you’re alive. I realize that’s not a pretty thought, but its true.
Why wouldn’t you want to plan for it? Or at least figure out – to the best of your ability – what’s probably going to happen?
Here’s what I think. You owe it to yourself to know why you believe what you believe about the afterlife.
How are you doing in planning for eternity? How much thought have you given it? What could change if you spent more time thinking it through, deeply.
Respond
Belong – Because you can belong before you believe.
To what extent do you think Jesus’ invitation into a relationship with Him might be about more than this life? Do you think he might be inviting you into something that could last forever?
Believe – Because those who belong often start to believe.
Do you know why you believe what you believe about the afterlife? Sometimes clear thinking can move you further toward belief.
Become – Because everyone who believes can become someone new.
Why do you believe what you believe about eternity? Could studying why you believe what you believe about the afterlife actually draw you closer to God? How do you think it might?
Dear God, help me to keep a clear mind in every situation. As I plan even for small things like vacations, help me to apply a stronger level of thinking to eternity. Thank you for inviting us into a relationship that will last forever. Through Christ I pray, Amen.
