We’re all born and we all die. What matters is the dash in between.
I’ve been thinking a lot about death.
I guess that’s ok because Ecclesiastes 7:2 says it’s, “Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.”
So many people will be here today and gone tomorrow.
Does it really matter?
This life?
How we spend our time?
What we make important to us?
Does any of it matter?
Imagine your name, birth year, and 2025 on the image.
What if it was all over for you in 2025?
If you never put your faith and hope in Jesus, it would mean eternal separation. Eternity in hell.
But what if you did believe and put your hope in Jesus?
Of course it changes your eternity.
The Bible says, “The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:9
You will get to experience the presence of Jesus where there is no more fear, pain, or tears. A place we can’t even begin to comprehend but better than anything we could ever think of.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:3-4
If our only purpose in this life was to have faith in Jesus, wouldn’t he take us to Heaven as soon as we trusted him?
But Jesus leaves us here after we’re saved because the dash in between our birthdate and the day we die matters.
It matters when you endure trials and your faith remains strong because it will “result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:7
It matters when you do not conform to the evil desires you had before you put your faith in Jesus. 1 Peter 1:14
It matters when you love one another deeply from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22
It matters when you get rid of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. 1 Peter 2:1
It matters when you desire the word of God so you can grow. 1 Peter 2:2
It matters when you’re careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Peter 2:12
It matters when by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 1 Peter 2:15
It matters when you use whatever gifts God has given you to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10
We do all these things so God may be glorified through Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 4:11
We do these things to fulfill the Great Commission.
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Make the dash matter.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
