We have probably all done it… wondered what we would do with all that money if the
good folks from Publisher’s Clearing House showed up at our front door with television
cameras, balloons, and one of those oversized cardboard checks. Yesterday I heard
that they were going to give away $5000 a week forever. You get $5000 per week till
you die and then you get to pass the award on to someone else.
So how would you spend it? Pay off all your debt, make home repairs and additions,
buy a new car, take a vacation, save for retirement, pay for college, and/or give to
charities.
Spiritually we have won the biggest jackpot mankind will ever know. 2 Peter 1:3 says,
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to
us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” We all know that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). And
Paul wrote that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a
sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Do we ever stop and think about how we are spending this gift? We are eternal beings
and will live forever beyond this temporal life. Because of sin all mankind was headed
to the Devil’s abode when this life is over. But God in his infinite wisdom, mercy, and
love has offered a place of eternal rest in His own home.
Jesus asked, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). How are we
spending our salvation?
Consider these questions: What are we doing with the salvation Jesus has offered us
(Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Timothy 6:12)? What are we doing with the gospel message
entrusted to our care (2 Corinthians 4:7)?
Jesus said that judgment would be based upon how we spend what God has blessed
us with (Matthew 25). When we pass over to the other side of life what will we hear Him say? “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41) or “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (verse 23).
Spend wisely for your inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) is in heaven and so is your retirement!