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It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.                               --Hebrews 9:27 The end of life is not usually a fun subject. I don’t know too many people who like to talk about or look forward to death. But unless my math is incorrect, I believe the death rate is right at 100 percent. That’s why I think it’s terribly foolish to live life unprepared for death. Which is why, I believe, the author of Hebrews gives us the perspective in the verse above.  In essence, I believe he is saying that you’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die! Scripture also tells us that life is like a vapor, which means it’s far too short and precious to waste time trudging through pointless and worthless activities. We need to set our sights and hopes on things above, not just on what’s here in front of us. That’s why as a pastor I urge Christians to spend their lives seeking heaven. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 6:19-21 to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth, because we aren’t here for very long. We don’t have anything to fear from eternity, even though most of the world around us fears death and doesn’t like to think about it. But we have been delivered from the power and the sting of death through Christ. I hope the thought of death doesn’t scare you. We don’t know all there is to know about eternity, but I do know that because of Christ we can live in hope and anticipation of being with Him…forever! Live your life prepared for eternity.

Light and Darkness

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
John 1:1–5

In bright, direct sunlight, a candle is almost invisible. We can barely see the flickering flame as the wick burns. However, on a truly dark night, a single candle casts a light that can be seen for up to ten miles. The difference is not in the candle, but in the conditions around it. We live in a society that is rushing headlong toward darkness. It often seems as though efforts are being made to extinguish every possible light.
This is not a surprise, for it conforms to the sinful nature of man. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Light has an exposing and limiting influence on those who would prefer for their deeds not to be known. The challenge we face is to refuse to be cowed by opposition or persecution, and instead to continue to shine brightly even if things around us become more dark.
The purpose and calling of God for us is not that our light is given to us for our benefit, but for the benefit, instruction, and even reproof of others. Jesus said, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light” (Luke 11:33). We were made lights for a reason, and though the darkness may not appreciate the light, it still needs it.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The darkness of the world around us makes it more important than ever that our lights shine brightly.