Here we are in the year 2016 AD, about 6,000 years from the Genesis creation story. Is that a long time? Most people probably believe so. Albeit, ask yourself if 6,000 years compared to eternity is a long time. Time, as we know it, compared to eternity, is like a “vapor.” “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” James 4:14. I have worked and volunteered in convalescent hospitals over the course of at least 25 years during my lifetime. You can ask residents in those facilities about life and they will tell you the truth; they are under no delusion, if they have retained their mental faculties. Most of the patients are at the end of their lives and they know it. Ask any one of them if life passes slowly and it seemed like a long time that would never end; or was it short, did it fly by? They will tell you how quickly life passed by and most would like to do things all over again, or at least do some things differently. Why do you suppose that is? We go through life like there is no tomorrow; we hardly ever, or never, consider the subject of death, or dying; yet, there are little gravesites at the cemeteries, headstones of babies and children all over the place. Why do any of us take life for granted and spend time doing useless and futile things, allowing our thoughts to be overtaken with the cares of this life, i.e.: when can I get a better car; how fast can I get a promotion; how can I buy a better house; where will I go on vacation next year...? Do we really understand that this is a testing ground, which lasts for about a nanosecond, compared to eternity, and that nothing will last that we achieve, accumulate, or gain monetarily, except for the things Christ instructed us to do and acquire in His Holy Word? King David wrote, “For You, oh God, have proved us; You have tried us, as sliver is tried” Psalm 66:10. “Many shall be purified and made white and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” Daniel 12:10. The Word of God tells us, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1. The Word of God tells us, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” Matthew 6:21. It behooves each one of us to ask ourselves where our treasure is. We will find out from the One who reveals all truth some day, but then it will be too late. We need to ask ourselves that question now, so we can “redeem the time.” The Word tells us, “Fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints...For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not partakers with them...Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them...See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:3,5-7,11,15-16. There are certainly a lot of distractions to keep us from picking up the Word of God, studying at Jesus’s feet, praying and going about the Father’s business. Nevertheless, Judgment Day will arrive for each one of us and we will answer to God individually for what we have done in this body. Moreover, God’s decision about where we will spend eternity and what type of reward will be waiting for us depends not only on our decision about Christ, whether we accepted, or rejected Him, but also what we did with the remainder of our time left on earth. Jesus said during His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” Matthew 5:10-12. In light of what we face each day, I am in no way insinuating that living a Godly life is easy, but we need to remember something else Jesus said, “He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” Luke 9:23. No, it isn’t easy, there is a “cross” involved; but if we keep our eyes fixed on the treasure, the reward, friends, will be worth it all! “In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:2-3.