Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

As the years go by so quickly and I am getting older, I am realizing nothing lasts forever.  The farm that I grew up on is deteriorating, no one is living there.  My parents are getting older and living in town in an apartment.  My older brother is in a nursing home.  Many of my aunts and uncles passed away this past year.  My families serious health problems make the frailty of life an ever present reality.  Family members that have lost children have made me look forward to heaven a little more as well. Now with coronavirus in New York and so many dying, everybody nervous about getting this scary sounding virus, eternity is even more in view.  My concern for people’s eternity has become even more in the front of my mind. Temporary things fade into the background when loved ones face serious illness or a loved one passes away.

In the above passage, Jesus said to set our affections on things above.  Not on things on the earth.  As Christians, Christ is our life and that life is forever with Him. How wonderful to think about!  We are to live for eternal purposes, yielded to God so Christ can live His life through us.  We aren’t to live for our ourselves, or own comfort, or own entertainment; yet in this entertainment driven society, many do just that.  I believe God is using this trial in our world for our good and for His purposes. 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God wants people to be prepared when they face eternity.  There is nothing more important than that and that is the way He wants us to live. I believe God is trying to slow people down and make them think about their eternity and question if they are truly prepared for it.

Today is resurrection Sunday and interestingly our world is in the middle of a pandemic.  I pray that many hearts and minds will turn to God and really seek Him. He is the resurrection and the life and our hope.  We can be risen to new life in Christ and live eternally, if we are willing to turn from our old lives of sin and self and put all our trust in Him that died for our sin and rose again.  Jesus is such a wonderful Saviour! Why would anyone want to live without Him? There is no sin worth hanging on to, no person worth hanging on to. Jesus loves us perfectly. He is a perfect friend and an ever present refuge. He died for our sin and rose again triumphant so that we can be set free from sin and self and able to have a new life in Him.