Set up for life

You often hear this saying; usually spoken in a wishful tone of voice. It is something to aspire to; to be set up for life. I guess most people who are thinking along these lines are hoping to have a life of ease and luxury.

"If I win the lottery..." "If I get my dream job..." "If my business is a huge success..." "If I marry into a wealthy family..." "If I attain fame and fortune..."

If...If...If...; the Ifs depend on a certain set of circumstances falling into place. OK let's assume it happens for you. You have achieved your goal and now you are set up for life. What next?

We will assume you will live out the rest of your days enjoying the fruits of your endeavours.

Wait a minute, you are set up for life but now we are talking about your death. So being set up for life is only a temporary situation.

The rich man in Luke chapter 16 was set up for life but ended up in Hell. Another rich man in Luke chapter 12 gives us further insight into this problem.

Luke 12:16-20

(16) "...the ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

(17) and he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no more room to store my crops?'

(18) So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and goods.

(19) And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry."

(20) "but God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?"

This is the result of leaving God out of your life! You can plan all you want; and you may be granted it. However, if God decides it is time your soul is required; you cannot reverse His decision!

So, being set up for life in this scene is only temporary and it can be terminated at any moment. Our tenure on life is fragile, it can be easily broken.

How much better it is to be set up for eternal life. That well known verse in John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." What a difference! By believing in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving Him as your Lord and Saviour you will immediately have eternal life!

1 Peter 1:3, 4 tells us, (3) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."

What a difference! Eternal life and an eternal inheritance are the rights of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you set for eternal life?

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted]

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