If the purpose of your life is to do no more than to extend that life as long as possible, then what is the purpose of your life. Excuses will abound over this statement; rationalizations will be explained in a most vehement and determined pattern. “Life must not come to an end, death is the eternal enemy, a long lived and full life is the goal of all.” For what purpose? To add to the continuation of the species in whatever way you can, to make money and enjoy the pleasures that the world offers, or at best to at least have some form of comfortable existence?
Perhaps you believe you are needed, there are those that love you, that depend upon you, and if you are gone then, then what, they will not have the type of life they should have, the life they deserve. We do not deserve anything, and we deserve everything we get. They will go on without you, someone else will care for them or they will live a destitute life of poverty and want, they will not be the first to have to do so. Now is the point in this letter to you that say, “He is so callous, so uncaring, doesn’t he know how valuable life is, death is not something to contemplate, its morbid to do so, life is too precious.” And here is the point where I quote Phil. 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Or perhaps for the faint of heart this one would be better, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
Now, tell yourself again that you are a faithful follower of Christ, that all of your being is devoted to Him, that when He calls you will answer, no matter the inconvenience, the circumstances, or the possible consequences. Quote that favorite verse of yours again, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” (Phil. 4:13) and then tell yourself that you are ready and willing to die for Him today, that you would leave everyone you love, everyone that depends on you, right now, for Him. Here is the point in this letter that you stop reading in disgust, where you find out who you truly are, where your faith comes to a wall that you will not climb over. What good is a long life if it has not been served in the fullest possible way to glorify God, to hate evil, (Prov. 8:13) to stand when others run, to speak love in firm truth, what possible good is any life that is not lived in conviction to the Most Holy.
Times are approaching on this planet that are going to show each of us exactly how much we truly trust the Lord, it will be time, as they say, to put up or shut up. Please don’t try to deceive yourself and say that you are willing to do all this and more for Him if you can just pass into His presence with no pain, you have no choice in that matter, so it should not even enter your consciousness, and this false idea that all He wants for you is a happy, well-rounded, protected from all trials and tribulations existence is foolish nonsense cooked up by Satan to keep born-again believers into a false sense of their purpose for Christ, and that purpose is not a happy, safe long life. Our purpose is to glorify God, in tribulations, (Romans 5:3) in temptation, (2 Peter 2:9) and “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Ezekiel was told, “Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.” (Eze. 24:16) That is how far you are to go, all are expected to die to self, (1 Cor. 15:31) all are expected to not love our own lives to the end, (Rev. 12:11) all of His children are expected to forsake everything for Him. (Luke 14:33)
Far too many refuse to contemplate that day of accounting, many believe that they will be just as welcomed into heaven as Silas or Paul, a great reception is awaiting them. For doing what? I know they are out there, I know there is a remnant who stand at every moment no matter the cost for the glory of the Lamb, but most people I meet have other pressing matters on their mind, most are concerned with the immediate, thoughts of the eternal are pushed to the side for they must entail within it the thoughts of their deaths.
A weaker brother is someone who has not yet been informed of the truth, the question of the salvation of an individual only arises when they will not face the truth.
