by R. L. Morrison

If you should be asked, "What thing is most important in your life?", how would you reply? Would it be difficult for you to decide upon an answer? Would your answer relate to things of a material or spiritual nature?

Seemingly, many would indicate things that are related only to this life are most important. This is suggested because of the things people do. If one spends most of his time, effort, and money pursuing such things, and shows little or no interest in spirituality, the most important thing to him is easily recognized.

These material, earthly things are for time only. If a man is able to gain a fortune, he only has it for a short time. The glory and honor the world bestows fades rapidly. Many times a hero is forgotten long before death. And death is inevitable; it will claim us all. However, death is not the end of man's existence. Though the body dies and returns to the earth from which it came, the inner man, the spirit, is not subject to death. It lives, and if one has not made preparation for the life beyond this one, he has lost everything desirable and worthwhile! No man is truly successful in life who leaves this life without a well grounded hope for eternal life in righteousness.

If this be true, no one can be too careful in diligently investigating the ground or basis upon which his eternal hope rests. Since this is eternal, and all material things are for time only, what should be the most important thing in life? Do you agree the most important thing should be preparing for the life to come?

Jesus became a man and lived in a fleshly body to show men how to make preparation for eternity. "... Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). He not only lived to show us how to live, but died that we, through him, might be reconciled to God.

The Bible, which reveals this to us, is the only ground or basis upon which one can build a life to please God now and hereafter. In Romans 1:16, Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek". It is not just one of God's powers to save, it is the ONLY one, for only one system of faith is revealed in the gospel. If a man accepts the gospel of Christ as his guide, he is governed and guided by it. He looks to it as the standard of authority in all things that pertain to the worship and service of God. He refrains from that which has not been authorized. He stands wholeheartedly upon the Gospel of Christ. He who does so, occupies a position that is secure.

When a man does what the Lord commands, as He speaks to us through His inspired apostles, he is building his hope for time and eternity upon that which will support it. What the Lord has revealed is the only sure, safe way.

This cannot be said of the platforms or doctrines that had their origin with men. No mere man can guide or direct us through life. Men sin: "... all have sinned ..." Men err in thinking and judgment. But Christ knew no sin, had all knowledge, being Divine, and has revealed to us, through his word, all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It makes known to us every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17); it, as the engrafted word, is able to save our souls (James 1:21) and is the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25).

To believe on God's word, the gospel of Christ, is to believe and do the things the gospel teaches, and leave undone everything that it does not teach. In no other way can one say that the word of God is his guide.

Consider further the necessity of making preparation in this life for a home in heaven in eternity. Perhaps we should first read what Peter says about that home. He wrote of "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." Also, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul" (1 Peter 1:4,9). As with most every thing the Bible teaches, there are those who disagree. Some say one possesses eternal life here in this life in the flesh. Others do not believe there is such a thing as eternal life, here or hereafter.

God, in nature, repeats a lesson time after time: every seed produces after its kind. We know this to be true. If in a garden we plant radishes, we expect to harvest radishes. No one plants a radish seed and expects that seed to produce tomatoes.

This is also true in the spiritual realm. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8). Previously, the apostle gave a list of the works of the flesh, including almost every evil man can engage in. Those who practice these evil things are sowing to the flesh. Thoughts and deeds, each day in life, are the seed we sow for eternal reaping. Paul said they who do such things shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).

Immediately following, the apostle lists the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. To sow to the Spirit is to practice these things in life, to make these qualities of God a part of our own life in the flesh. To do so, as long as life shall last, means one shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. The (spiritual) result of sowing to the flesh in this life is just as certain as sowing radish seed will produce radishes. The corruption of which Paul spoke is an eternal separation from

God. It is spoken of in scripture as being cast into the outer darkness (Matt. 25:30). And just as one who plants seed in a garden decides what kind of seed will be planted, so does each responsible person decide what seed will be sown in the spiritual realm of life. Each one of us determines if we sow to the flesh or to the Spirit. There is no escaping this responsibility. Everyone will make the decision, for the manner of life one lives plainly shows what one has decided to do.

Perhaps we should consider some things the Bible teaches about eternity as there are some who think this present life in the fleshly body is all there is for man. Many of those who so believe call man an animal or at least no different from one. In the beginning, God created animals, all of them. And when He had finished all other work of creation, God created man in "His own image" (Genesis 1:26-27). God is not an animal, He is Spirit (John 4:24). Therefore man is more than mortal, consisting of more than just an animated fleshly body. Paul so affirms. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23).

Every human being consists of body, soul, and spirit. God is eternal, therefore the spirit of man, made in God's image is also eternal. It is not subject to death, but will continue to exist and live in eternity. You, and all who read this are eternal in spirit, in the likeness of God. In the resurrection we shall obtain a spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:42-44). These things the New Testament clearly teaches. They will help us to understand what is most important, or at least should be, in our lives now.

Since we shall live forever, the aim of our existence should be recognition of and obedience to the Word of God. This should be the most important thing in life!

True happiness in this present life and in that which is to come depends upon our attitude toward that which God has revealed. What is the most important thing in your life?