In the battle between life and death, for all men throughout world history, including the religious leaders like Confucius, Buddha and Mohammed, the grave always had the last word.
God created humanity with the inner sense that life does not end at the grave. He has given us this afterlife ‘instinct’ deep within our hearts. However, it is not always easy to keep the eternal perspective in mind.
We live in a materialistic culture with an all pervading ‘live-for-the-day’ mentality. The only thing important in your life and mine we are told, is whether or not we’re enjoying the moment. ‘I want it all and I want it now… Why worry about tomorrow?’
Jesus constantly warns us to prepare ourselves for eternity because
‘we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:10
So when you want to take decisions first of all pray; seek godly advice and ultimately ask yourself what the many Christians throughout the centuries proposed a single formula for judging the worth of our pursuits: ‘What does this have to do with eternity?
The struggle with temptation is not over and requires a life-long commitment. Yet consider this: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the power of the Holy Spirit lives within us!
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. Rom. 8:11, 12.
Remember also that He gives us the strength to get up if we fall and to never give up.