John 5:24
Ecclesiastes 3:11
There is a famous saying that goes begin with the end in mind. We are often told that the best way to accomplish things in this world is to do them with an end in mind. Some of us know exactly what we want to be when we grow up. So we are going to school and taking subjects that will enable us to achieve what we want.
In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, God gives us options. He has given us two choices: death and life. When we live independent of him, we shall experience death, and when we depend on him, we shall experience life and prosperity. Meaning that all of us have a choice in life. We choose how to live our lives, but we should always remember that each option has repercussions.
You may be young and think that it is not really vital for you to think about the end right now but remember that none of us is promised tomorrow. Another thing to remember is that Jesus can come back anytime, so we need to be ready. Before you go to hang out with that click of friends who are engaging in drugs and immorality, take time to think about the end. What will be the consequences of your actions? Will they take you to heaven, or will they take you to hell?
When your friends want you to go against your faith and values, you should take a minute to reflect on that. Think about the consequences. Is what you are about to do good in the sight of God? Will it bring glory to him and cause you to enjoy the crown of life at the end of time? If you went drunk driving with your friends and something happened to you, where will you spend your eternity?
We serve a merciful God, but we need to also understand that God is a righteous judge. He will judge us accordingly. We should not live recklessly, thinking that we have all the time in the world just because we are young. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 tells us to enjoy our youth, to be happy when we are still young. But it also tells us that God will judge us in whatever we do.
Focusing on eternity will help you to make the right decisions in your life. It will also ignite a flame of Christ in your heart, for you will have a deep desire to live a life that is pleasing unto God. Not just that, but you will have a longing to tell others about the kingdom of God, and this will, in turn, ignite a fire for God in the body of Christ and the world.
Action:
Before making any decision think about the repercussions of the choices, you’re about to make. When you do anything, do it with the end in mind. Ask yourself if what you’re about to do will draw you close to Christ. Will you get the crown of life at the end of time if you take that road? Or will the decision cause you to miss out on eternal life?