Unless one realizes that life for them is going to come to an end someday, they will never live life to its fullest.
Those who have a rudimentary knowledge of this truth, and at least a modicum of ambition will attempt to fill some of the moments they have with adventures and excitement, with journeys that produce only temporary pleasures and leave only memories behind. “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 1:14)
When anyone begins a project, they generally have in mind the expected end of that endeavor, if you mix the proper ingredients together to make bread, you expect a loaf of bread as the end of your work. There is no purpose in building a structure unless that structure has a useful purpose. So then, by default, the purpose of a long life has no meaning unless it is a well lived life, and the required knowledge of the end of that life must be debated within us.
You will die is not the end of that debate, what comes after is.
The greatest unknown in man is not the depths of space or the wonders of the ocean, it is what comes after this life, and those who will not spend sufficient time contemplating this truth will spend the entirety of their lives living only for this life. It is a truth that cannot be escaped, you will die, you have no choice in this matter, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor. 15:19)
Those who have been crucified with Jesus Christ do not fear death, we are already dead, though alive in Jesus Christ, death is no more than a door we will pass through, but there is that small matter of how we are going to live this life for Christ, how much of this life should be sought for self and how much for Christ. If you will give pause to ponder this, if you are indeed saved your life of self is the life lived for Christ, for 2 Corinthians 10:5 stands as truth, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” is the way your mind thinks. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) is the way you react to the things that enter into your life, all that you say, do or think is contemplated against the Word of God, your life is lived for the glory of God, your self is His.
I offer this truth, the only life well lived is the one that is offered in complete submission to the Lord God. It does not seek for joy outside of Him, it finds no continuing happiness away from Him, and it does so willingly.
We are the only people on the planet that look forward to the arrival of death, we wait in joyous anticipation for it, for that moment will remove every last vestige of the old nature and the ability of sin to influence us. We will finally be free.
I have met very few people who have any desire to speak upon this subject at length, if they do not consider it fearful, it is to them at least morbid and rejected as fruitful in any way, here is where the work is, there is where the rest is, the rest from the work.
Have you perchance considered this, that a few decades of life cannot be compared to eternity, and do you suppose that there is no work for you throughout all of eternity? Only those who are heavenly minded are of any earthly good, and if your mind is set upon the things of this world, of living here for as long as possible and experiencing as much as you can, then you mind is not set on Christ. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)
