While we are alive, do we want to be a positive role model for our family? And do we want to leave a positive, eternal legacy? If so, we need to live our life with the end in mind.
Remember these eight facts:
- Life on earth is short. (James 4:14).
- Earth is not our home.(1 Chronicles 29:15) (Philippians 3:20).
- We are going to die (Hebrews 9:27).
- After we die, we face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
- We will appear before God to give an account of our life and receive payment for what we have done (Romans 14:12) (Matthew 16:27) (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- We will either be with God or separated from Him for eternity (1 John 5:11-13)
- After we die, nothing material leaves earth with us. (1 Timothy 6:7).
- When we are in heaven, the “eternals” who will be with us are God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Angels, and people.
Keeping these eight facts in mind, if we want to be a positive role model for our family, and if we want to leave a positive, eternal legacy, then we need to live life backwards. In other words, we need to live life with the end in mind. And how do we do that?
We need to write down what we want the following people to say at our funeral: spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family, friends, employers, coworkers, and our pastor or priest.
Knowing that we will appear before God, we also need to write down what we want Him to say about us? And what we want Jesus and The Holy Spirit to say about us?
Then, we need to live that way.