Ready or not, willing or not, in the end, everyone will face it: one day, we will realize that our time on earth is almost gone. It is only at that moment that we truly grasp the awe-inspiring power of time’s journey. Many fail to recognize it because they still feel they have plenty of chances left. Today comes with a morning, tomorrow brings another morning, and so on. It is like a person who always has plenty of money—he does not understand the weight of having nothing until the day he opens his wallet and finds only a few coins, not even enough to buy a simple meal.
The same is true of someone who acts carelessly. That person thinks everything is fine until the police investigate and they are suspected of breaking the law, or even imprisoned. Only then does he understand the reality of prison bars. Especially if he faces a sentence of more than ten years, their life collapses. Once, he hoped he would never be caught, but now he stands condemned as a primary drug dealer, sentenced even to death.
In truth, the death sentence itself is not the most terrifying. What is far more dreadful is standing at death’s threshold and realizing that one is about to enter the dark corridor called eternity. That is what brings actual trembling. Even more so if one faces the second death—eternal separation from God’s presence—which the Bible describes as weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Ironically, many churches do not clearly remind their people of this, even though the church should be the very one to speak out boldly. The world only offers “sweet dreams” that blind people to the reality of time’s journey. More frightening still is that none of us knows when our end will come. Perhaps this reflection is the last one we will ever read. Today, we are reminded: we are all traveling through time. How dreadful if we do not repent sincerely while being unprepared to meet God. The truth is, many believers are not ready to die, even if they are unaware of it.
So, the question is: what about us? Do we realize the journey of time? Are we ready if God calls us home? Do we know where we are going?
One mark of those who truly belong in heaven is that they do not fear death—indeed, they long to meet the Lord. Therefore, if someone does not long for this meeting, something is surely wrong in their life. That is why we must follow the Lord seriously. Truly seriously. The way is simple: be willing to honestly acknowledge our sins, ask forgiveness, and walk in newness of life, leaving sin behind. The Holy Spirit will help. Life is tragic. Today we may be with our spouse, but tomorrow one of us may already be gone. If the church fails to remind its members of this, that church is being unfaithful. For in the end, we will all reach life’s closing chapter: the end of business, the end of marriage, the end of family. The question is—are we ready?
Let it not be that the husband enters heaven while the wife does not. Let it not be that parents enter heaven while the children do not. The church must prepare households to become eternal families, not merely conduct services that bless people in their finances or business. For no matter how great a busyness may be, it means nothing at the edge of time. The church is called to prepare the people for eternity. Life is tragic. Therefore, prepare yourself for eternity.