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“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

I knew a man who was looking forward to retirement. He had plans to travel with his wife and to spend time with his family. He had saved well and was looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle in his retirement years. Finally, the day arrived. On the very first morning of his retirement, while drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper, the man died of a massive heart attack.

That serves as a reminder for us not to take anything for granted. We never know when it is our time to go. Many respond to this fact with a fatalistic approach to life. They make life all about the here and now. They live it up and chase pleasure. They pile up money and spend it just as quickly. All in an effort to live the ‘good life’ while they have the chance.

Jesus says this is a foolish approach to life because it gives no regard for the soul and its eternal destination. The man I knew did not approach life this way. Yes, he was looking forward to his retirement years, but he was looking far more forward to an eternity in heaven. He understood that ten or twenty years of the ‘good life’ on earth are nothing compared to an eternal life with Jesus. This man believed that Jesus had come into this world to live in our place and to die for us on the cross. Jesus earned something far more valuable than a cushy retirement. He earned the salvation that we could not provide on our own. He has provided us with the only path to heaven.

Dear Jesus, when my time comes to leave this world, help me to be ready to go through faith in you. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.