We continue to live within a
world-system that promotes the idea that having more “stuff” is what’s most
important. Having lots of “stuff” is a
sign of success, achievement or recognition; you’ve made it to the top; you’ve
arrived. Houses, cars, boats, clothes,
electronic gadgets, etc. are all set before us as the answer to filling that
empty feeling inside of each one of us.
Companies pay large sums of
money to advertising firms to come up with catchy slogans that will identify
their products and then stick in the consumers’ memories. If we’re not careful, we can find ourselves
spending more money than we have on “stuff” we don’t need simply because we’ve
allowed ourselves to be convinced by the advertisers’ slogans and jingles.
The question, then, is, “How
important is our ‘stuff’”? Does our
“stuff” resolve the various conflicts in our lives? Does our “stuff” improve our relationship
with God, spouse, children, friends, co-workers, church family, or
neighbors? Is our “stuff” what we reach
for in times of chaos and confusion? Is
our “stuff” able to improve our health, cure the cancer or restore the damaged
arteries after a stroke? Do we own our
“stuff” or does our “stuff” own us?
As one who has been at the
bedside of many who are transitioning from life on earth to life in eternity
(regardless of their eternal destination), not one person has asked for their
“stuff” to be at their bedside. Not one
person has asked for their car, motorcycle, boat, or any thing else to be
brought to them as they wait to take their last breath.
Jesus gives us a firm
reminder of what’s really important. In
Mark 8:34-38 we read,
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me. For whoever
wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake
and the gospel’s shall save it. For what
does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and
My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be
ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
What does is profit a man to
gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?
The worth of the immaterial part of a person that lives on into
eternity, the soul/spirit, is beyond calculating. It is, in fact, priceless. Why?
Because that part of every person will experience one of only two things
when it is released at physical death: (1) eternal joy with God in His
presence, forever or (2) eternal grief, sorrow, and agony, separated from God,
forever. Eternal means forever and ever
and ever.
God’s Word tells us that, a
person dies once and after that comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27),
In other words, there are no
second chances, after physical death occurs, for the soul/spirit to be
redeemed. So the admonition is serious,
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not
harden your heart,” (Ps. 95:7-ff; Hebrews 3:15).
There are only a few things
that most people seek when they are coming to the end of their lives here on
earth: (1) Forgiveness from God and those whom they have hurt; (2) peace of
mind and heart, (3) to not be alone in their dying moment.
No one asks for their “stuff.”
May the Lord bless you as you
continue to seek and serve Him.
By His Grace,
Gary T. Dromi, Ph.D.
