Tuesday, September 12, 2023
“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).
He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!
Recently, I read the protracted (and pompous) obituary of a woman whose earthly sojourn was just under a century. Her many accomplishments had been laid out in great detail for everyone to notice and admire. From a large family, she attended college, obtained a degree, and became a schoolteacher. She joined a certain prestigious club. The lady liked to be at the center of attention, especially when hosting or attending parties. She and her husband went on many pricey vacation trips. They played sports at their neighborhood country club. She taught her children and grandchildren how to plan meals and properly set tables. Being wealthy, she owned real silverware, fine china, and crystal! She cooked magnificent dishes and loved books. Quite religious, she “strove to be close to God.” Deeply devoted to her works-religion denominational church for decades, she taught religion classes and volunteered to participate in various charitable events.
The above profile is commonplace. Billions of sincere people spend much time, energy, and money pursuing happiness in this world. They are under the (false) impression that, provided they believe and do what they wish, they will lead a full and significant life. Yet, we mature Christians wonder. While they amassed physical possessions, what spiritual riches did they acquire? They enjoyed education and books, but did they ever read and believe so much as a single verse in the Holy Bible? Though they taught their children this skill or that ability, did they impart sound Bible doctrine to them? While they made important social connections, did they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour? They attended church services and busied themselves with religious affairs, but was it ever the Holy Spirit working in their life?
Dear friends, when we contemplate these grave questions, disconcerting truths come into focus. A life that society applauds now seems unimportant, a person who appeared wise and successful is now revealed to be foolish and a failure, and the soul who seemed to be prosperous was in fact eternally bankrupt….
333 Words of Grace 