So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   2 Corinthians 4:18 HCSB

Part of adulting is financial responsibility. Let’s say you were a couple years away from retirement and had quite a bit of money saved up in your account. Say that in the next couple years when you retire you will have enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. But, you get a call from your travel agent. She knows you have been wanting to take this dream vacation for many years. It’s on your bucket list. The only problem is paying for it, you will have to pull all of your money out of your retirement account. Would you do it?

To many of you this sounds absurd, right? But, some of you may be saying, “Sure, you only live once” or “Live for today.” I spent many years of my life living that way. I was living for today.

I knew the Ten Commandments, I had learned all about them in Sunday School. I was just picking and choosing which ones I wanted to obey. I kept the Sabbath holy when it was convenient. I coveted the things my neighbors had and spent too much money. I saved very little. I put other things and events before God. In all honesty, I broke more commandments than I kept. Let’s just leave it at that. I was exchanging temporary pleasure for my eternal salvation. I thank God He allowed me to live long enough to repent and change my ways. I thank God I finally came to my senses and dedicated my life to Him. I have needed Him so much and He has always been there for me. I can’t praise Him and thank Him enough.

When we live according to our flesh and put God on the back burner, we are exchanging temporary pleasure for eternal salvation. When we don’t obey Gods commands, we are saying that we don’t love Him (John 14:15). 1 John 4:7 tells us that if we love one another we are from God because love is from God, but verse 8 tells us that if we do not love, we do not know God. Are you wasting time on temporary bitterness and anger against others, risking an eternity in hell?

Our time here on earth is a dress rehearsal. We practice for an eternity in heaven by honoring God and loving Him and praising Him just as we will do in heaven. Or, we practice for an eternity in hell with self-serving behavior, jealousy, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness.

I have another hypothetical question for you. If you had a healthy college fund for your child, who was one year away from graduating high school, would you spend that on a two week vacation? Would you force your child to get student loans so you could have two weeks of pleasure? Well, I’m glad my parents didn’t do that. I am also glad that my mom taught me that I should be in Sunday school and church every Sunday. My grandma Nancy taught me the same and they taught me to put God first in my life. They taught me to love others even when they were unlovable. I strayed from that teaching for many years, but praise God I came back to it. We are told in Proverbs 22:6 to train up our children in the way that they should go and they will not depart from it. There will come a day when you will leave this planet and you won’t be there for them anymore. I pray you have helped them to establish a relationship with their heavenly Father. I pray they understand that Jesus is there to guide them and lead them in the way they should go. I pray you have prepared them for an eternity in heaven. If you haven’t been doing this, what are you waiting for? Are you going to let them decide? Are you letting them decide whether or not they want to go to school? Are you letting them decide whether or not they want to work when they get older? Are you encouraging them to experiment with drugs and alcohol to see if they want to use them? Are you teaching them to live for today and exchange their eternal salvation for temporary pleasure? They learn from watching you.

Luke 15:11-32 is the parable of the prodigal son. He foolishly squandered his inheritance on sinful living. He ran out of money and was literally eating with the pigs. When he got tired of that lifestyle, he went home to his father. His father ran to him and welcomed him with open arms. God will do the same for you. Run to Him today.

Have a great day!