I am preparing my sermon for this weekend and thinking about life.  I have been doing that a lot lately.  Trying to take life lessons and distill them down to maybe somehow help someone else.  Today I am thinking about living with the end in mind.  Let me explain.

I know it is important to be “present” in the moment, but we can be so present that we fail to look to the future.  Here is a question I just sent out over Twitter – “If you continue living the way you are right now, what will your life be like in 10 years?”  Think about it.  I’ll give you a minute.  While you’re thinking I’ll be working on some other stuff….

…….

…….

……

Well, have you really thought about it?  Let’s get into particulars.  If you keep managing your money the way you are managing it now, what will be your financial picture in 10 years (or 1 for that matter!)  How abou this one – if you keep taking care of your physical body (nutrition, rest, exercise) the way you are right now, what will you look/feel like in 10 years?  Scary, huh?

How about this?  If your relationship with the Lord continues as it is right now, how much more like Him will you be in 10 years?  That is the most important question, because it really affects the other two and everything else.  Our physical, spiritual, and emotional health rests squarely on a relationship with Jesus Christ.  And there is no sitting still on this issue – either you are moving forward or you are moving backward.  Which is it for you?

I challenge you to take the time to visualize your life 10 years from now.  And while you are at it, as morbid as it sounds, visualize what it will be like when you know you are out of time on this Earth.  What will you celebrate?  What will you regret.

Until next time….