There’s often a lot of talk about planning for the future and retirement. One retirement savings industry expert was being interviewed on radio in Sydney. The interviewer was Clive Robertson.
The expert was arguing along these lines: “We need to think about the future. We need to look after our futures. The population is aging, we won’t be able to afford the pension for everyone. Therefore, you need to think about the future … your future … and make sure you prepare properly.”
Clive Robertson, who is a Christian man, replied: “Humm, yes, it’s a very important point you make – the importance of thinking about he future … and preparing for the future … and living rightly now … in the light of the future. Have you thought about your future … and what will happen after you die?”
There was a long pause on the radio! The industry expert was completely flawed … had no idea what to say … and stumbled back to Clive … “Arrg arrg arrg, no!”
And Clive said to him: “Well, you should think about the future! You should think about what will happen after you die.”
Sorting out the future
We spend an amazing amount of time effort planning for our earthly future. We need to spend more time sorting out our eternal future.
If the expert was to decide there was no life after death, then there would be nothing else to live for other than himself. He might as well ‘eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die’, following the adage that ‘he who dies with the most – wins’. But it is a pretty unsatisfactory, pathetic, selfish existence.
Jesus demonstrates to us that there is life after death by rising from the dead himself. It is a fact in history that Jesus died on the cross two thousand years ago and then rose to life again. Jesus has conquered death and now gives new life.
Jesus is crystal clear in saying to the expert and us that we are conscious after our death. There are two alternative states of existence. Jesus says people either are in ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’. The picture that Jesus paints of heaven is of people enjoying permanent relationship with God. The picture of hell is one of relational agony, as those there are permanently aware of the relationship that they are missing out on.
It is through the resurrection of Jesus that we are given new birth (entry) into a living hope which can never perish, spoil or fade. This eternal future is a wonderful permanent relationship with Jesus.
How to live now
Jesus challenges us now not to live foolishly for ourselves, not giving a thought to the future. But to live for God, recognising that there will come a time of death and accountability before God.
The question for us is will we accept the death of Jesus that pays for our rebellion against God, and trust that the resurrection of Jesus guarantees us a life after death with Jesus?