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I once read a story about a couple who were vacationing in the mountains of California. One day they noticed a young man sitting by a bridge near the place where they were staying. They saw him sitting in the same spot day after day. At first, they thought he was fishing in the river, but on closer observation, they saw that he was doing nothing, just sitting there-and staring off into space.
Finally, on the final day of their visit, they couldn't help themselves. They had to ask, "What are you doing here, sitting alone all day, doing nothing?" He replied with a smile, "I happen to believe in reincarnation. I believe that I have lived many times before and that I'll live many times after this life. So this life I'm sitting out!"
What a sad view of life! It has been said, in life you can never stay in the same place, you are either moving forward…or backward! I hate to be the one to tell the young man, but you just cannot "sit out" life! What a narrow and hopeless view he has.
Jesus brings "abundant life" to those who believe on him, John 10:10. That's not just a promise for the "after while," but also "life to the full" right now! Christianity brings hopeful living to people!
Besides the here and now, there is also the sobering thought, opposed to this young man's way of thinking, that this life gives us an opportunity to prepare for eternity. There will be no other chances. You can't "sit this one out."
"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people…"-Hebrews 9:27-28
So, don't sit this one out. It's the only life you've got! Live it for God. Where you will spend eternity will depend upon it.
Tom Nuckels |