People seem to be squandering their lives and opportunities away. The younger one is, the less they see the importance of life but I have also seen this in older adults. People just don't seem to believe their lives are really headed somewhere!
Hebrews 11 speaks of those of faith that were God approved. "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own." (Heb. 11:13-14) These faithful men and women lived a richly blessed life, even amidst their struggles because they were looking, focused on the eternal country that God promised them. As a result, they didn't fritter their lives away chasing pleasures, hobbies and other things. They didn't waste their time by lazing in bed and allowing spiritual opportunities to pass by. What about us? Our lives on this earth can be difficult and distressing but it is all part of the "going home" experience. We know we are going to die but we don't take our pilgrimage on this earth seriously. We live like we are going to be here forever with all our activities and accumulations. Our lives are weighed down with everything but God! We fill our time with innumerable obligations, involving ourselves in clubs, organizations and commitments. Our energies are used for everything and the tank is empty when it comes to spiritual matters. Our lives become frazzled from running and our faith erodes away.
It is good to believe in life after death and hope in God but we need to believe in life before death! That's where we stumble. We have a great capacity for adventure and excitement but many times that is only squandering our lives in another form of death! That's why many are not living life here and wasting many spiritual opportunities. The things we choose to involve ourselves in and what we put our efforts toward indicate what we believe! Those men and women of old welcomed the promises from a distance, confessed they were strangers on this earth because they saw their lives headed to God!! They made the most of things on this earth so they would have the most after they die. Hopeful saints do not see life the way others see life. They have a purpose in their lives by living a meaningful purpose day by day. To those dying spiritually or lost, they just exist from day to day, waiting for the next "involvement" to only find themselves separated from the Lord in the end. To the saved, hopeful saint, they live each day taking advantage, looking for spiritual gain because of their faith in the goal. "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." (Heb. 11:6)
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