After This Life, What Awaits You?
Often, in contemplation of passing from this life, one thinks about how to divide their worldly goods and possessions among those who remain behind to live the rest of their lives on earth. This is a natural thing with humans as the Spirit had Solomon speak of it in Ecclesiastes 2:18-19. However, He had the preacher give notice that to “worry” about such things is vanity. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
There are many who discuss these affairs with their heirs in order to be fair in the dispersion of what one has amassed while laboring on earth. But even this is “vanity” as we were told above – How do we know how the person who inherits will properly utilize that which was left them? We’ll never know as Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 makes this perfectly clear. We won’t be able to “look down” (or “look up” as the case may be) to see how the one’s we loved fare after our parting. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Yet, I am told, many “put in their orders” or express their “wants” as older parents, aunts, uncles and various other relatives seemingly approach the time when the “silver cord be loosed” or the “golden bowl be broken” and as “man goeth to his long home”. Can folks not see the “cycle” and repetitive nature of this? Why “worry” about what is “left you” in this life, as it really doesn’t matter. What matters is what awaits you when “YOU” pass on.
This was obviously important because Jesus Himself spoke of it in the Sermon on the Mount in the Matthew 6:19-21 account. He said: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Where is the “heart” of the one that frets and worries over material things which they might inherit? Is this to be the main focus of life? Perhaps we need a reminder of the warning of Philippians 3:18-19. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
What a rich inheritance has been passed on by the godly parents of years gone by. These were parents who had read the Commandment given to God’s people in the O.T. (Israelites), and heeded them. It reads: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) These “children’s inheritance has value that is inestimable, because if used properly, will benefit their own offspring as well as keep them on the right path for an eternal inheritance.
The beauty of this type of inheritance is that it can be “passed on” before death, by any faithful student of the Word to any hearer that will believe and obey. This is what the Spirit had Paul tell the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:32 when they went to see him in Miletus. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. It is the Word of God which informs one what to do and how to do it, to have that final inheritance God gives His obedient children.
Colossians 1:12-13 makes it clear that one MUST be part of the kingdom or they CANNOT inherit. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: This is further proven in 2Thessalonians 1:8-9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; What awaits these that do not know God and who will not obey? I think their eternal “inheritance” is not something any should desire.
Colossians 3:23-25 warns that preparation for our eternal inheritance is ours alone to make. None can prepare for you. What awaits each soul is based on if, and how they serve God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. After this life, what awaits you? You decide! Obey the gospel now and then serve faithfully all the rest of your days.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
