I used to take a lot of walks, when I was a child and then later as a spouse living on various military bases. I found that taking walks calmed me, the me that was angry over the things going on in my life over which I had no control. I can’t take as many walks now. One reason is that we live in a wooded area that is very rural and there are no sidewalks or even a safe space for me to walk. Another reason is that my ability to walk is impeded by a leg that doesn’t like to move around for very long without aching. So, I content myself with chair aerobics and going to the pool twice a week for swim aerobics. It just isn’t the same for me, but I am learning to be content with what is the natural course of my life. Everyone who doesn’t die young gets old. Getting older has challenges of its own, but it also has the promise of eternal life that will be coming sooner rather than later.

I love how this verse expresses what my future will ultimately be like…God’s call is UPward! That is the future for all of us who serve the Lord and have purposed to spend eternity with Him.

I don’t know if I will live until Jesus returns or not. I’m not even sure when the Church will be called away. I just know that I plan to be ready whenever it happens. And if I am already dead, then I will awaken to eternal life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is the positive part of this verse in Daniel. The negative side is that some will go to “everlasting contempt.” One version calls it “eternal shame.” (MSG) My grandson has been visiting this week and he is very curious about eternal life and what is to come. He asked me the other day, “What happens if I don’t believe in Hell or eternal condemnation?” My reply to him was very simple, “Your belief in the existence of Hell or not doesn’t make it not real. Hell is a very real place, created for Satan and his angels. But if you insist on living your life selfishly and not accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then God will sadly allow you to go there at the end. It wasn’t meant to you, but God will allow you to have your choices fulfilled.” Well, let me tell you that had him really thinking and asking more questions. I wish that I had all of the answers for him, but I honestly could only answer with my limited knowledge. God is God and will do as He has promised. He has promised salvation to those of us who love and worship His Son as our Lord and Savior. He has also promised judgment and condemnation to those who have not. As my grandson said, “That’s harsh!” Yes. Yes, it is. But God lives up to His character and fulfills His Word. If we choose to live outside of His plan for us, then we are choosing a final destination that He did not choose for us.

Yes, I am older. More of my life is behind me than in front of me. But I have no regrets about living for the Lord and making Him a priority of my life. I know that some day I will reap an eternal reward. I pray and hope that each of you has the same hope of salvation, of eternal life.

Made New by Lincoln Brewster