Someday our bodies will fall apart. No amount of vitamins or exercise or medicine or surgery or replacement parts can prevent that from happening. But the Bible makes it clear that our souls live forever—something we would be wise to keep in mind along life’s journey. That’s why the Bible says repeatedly that God doesn’t want anyone to perish.

To perish means to miss out on the life God intended us to enjoy on earth, and the life He intended us to enjoy in heaven. The last words of the apostle Peter are worth reviewing. What is utmost on his mind? First, that we keep taking God at His word, that we cling to it, that we believe what He has said, and that we not be carried away by false teaching.

Second, that we live pure lives, keeping our eyes on eternity—not on what is temporal and soon to fade away. But third, and this is my point here, Peter reminds us that “God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish” [2 Peter 3:9]. God’s desire that we truly live, however, doesn’t happen to us by luck, fate, or osmosis. Again, Peter says that “God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” Repentance means to turn away from sin, turn back to God, receive His forgiveness, and live for Him, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Don’t wait. Do it today.

This is Luis Palau.