WE CAN HAVE A “DO OVER” FOR MANY THINGS, BUT NOT FOR OUR LIFETIME ON EARTH

SCRIPTURE:
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the 
faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to 
godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, 
promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed 
season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me 
by the command of God our Savior. 
(Titus 1:1-3)

MEDITATION:
God made man different from all the other creatures. 
He made him in His own image, which includes a living soul. 
Our earthly lives are mortal, but our soul is not.
When our body dies, our soul lives on forever. 
Our finite body decays, but our soul will be joined with a new body.

Each person has been given a lifetime here on earth.
It is a one-time gift and not one that can be re-lived when it is over.
Whether people admit it or not, all have a hope of eternal life.
Life represents something good, but death does not.

“Life” means spending an eternity with the Lord in heaven.
“Death” means spending an eternity 
separated from the Lord and in an endless agony.
“Death” includes a painful physical agony in the lake of fire, 
but it also includes an emotional agony of seeing what we could have had, 
if we had used our life as we should have.
There is no escape 
for the man who squanders his opportunity to prepare to meet God. 

When we have expended the lifetime we have been given,
will we have we failed or succeeded in the use of the one we were given?
Our life is our opportunity to prepare ourselves for how we will spend eternity.
It is also our opportunity to point others to the Lord and eternal life.
If we do not appropriately prepare ourselves to meet the Lord, 
then regardless of whether or not we have succeeded in everything else, 
we will have failed in the use of the life given to us.

Paul realized the importance of the life he was given, and he dedicated 
himself to pointing others to the Lord through his preaching.
Obviously God does not call everyone to be the pastor of a church, 
however He does have a purpose for everyone who receives His gift of salvation.
We each have been given special skills and talents to be used in serving the Him.
We should consider it exciting to be a part of His ministry, 
and to see how He orchestrates and helps us to use what He has given us.

ACTION:
How are you using the life that you were given?
Have you allowed selfish desires to override what the Lord expects of you?
Are you more focused on your mortal life, or your eternal life?
Are there any changes you should make 
regarding your goals, attitudes, actions and outlook?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me and giving me an opportunity 
to spend eternity with You. Thank you for the promised eternal life in Christ 
and for the peace that comes over me as a result of this triumphant promise!  
Forgive me if my selfishness has caused me to lose sight of what You expect 
of me. Help me to refocus and prepare now for how I will spend eternity. 
Teach me how to share the good news of the Lord and salvation with those 
around me. Show me how to use the skills and talents You have given me.”