Sometimes It's Not Good to Be so "Blessed"

I once knew an elderly man who was growing very depressed over the thought of leaving this life. He had been blessed with a wonderful family, many good friends, and had been financially secure throughout his life. He truly enjoyed life to the fullest and told me he hated the thought of leaving it all behind. Here was a good Christian man, who felt he had lived a life that was pleasing to the Lord because he had gone to church faithfully. He even boasted about how he had never missed a mass and knew every part of the service by heart, but he admitted he had never read the Bible. Maybe if he had, he wouldn't be finding it so difficult now to leave this world behind.

I can't help but wonder how many "good" Christians go through life focusing more on the here and now, than on where they will spend eternity. There are some who even believe if they have acquired much wealth in their lives it's because they've earned it by being exceptional Christians. What they're really doing is focusing on the here and now, and sadly, by doing that they are depriving themselves of having something wonderful to look forward to, a home in heaven, free from all the cares and sorrows of this world.

When I look at the beauty of God's creation, I am always in awe. I can't think of a single thing man could ever create that could even come close to what God has created. There is no color man could ever come up with that could even come close to the colors of a rainbow or the colors of flowers in a field. There's no skyscraper or structure that could ever be built that would be near as magnificent as a full grown cedar tree or a majestic mountain. No airplane, rocket, or any other kind of flying machine could ever fly as smooth and gracefully as an eagle or a hawk!

Yet, people will pay thousands of dollars for a painting or a statue that will deteriorate in time, when all they have to do is look around them at the artistry of God for free. I guess when you don't have much, you learn to appreciate the little things in the world, and you realize it's so much more valuable than any "thing" you can buy or possess. I really do feel bad for people who have been so busy all their lives, or who have had so much wealth, they never even noticed the beauty and glory of God all around them. I feel even sorrier for the ones who have never known Jesus personally and felt His love, or realized what He did to give them a chance at eternal life. More than anything else, I pity people who have been so "blessed," they never even knew they needed Him.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

The life we have here will too soon be past. Let your heart be where life is forever!