I
wonder why someone would make a “bucket list” and not put staying
alive (which explains the “yell for help”) at the very top. Isn’t
staying alive the most important thing? Going places, doing things
and obtaining possessions are fine, but isn’t living the most
important?
Jesus
said…
Matthew
16 ( World English
Bible )
[24]
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25]
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will
lose his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it
profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his life? [27] For the Son of
Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he
will render to everyone according to his deeds.
Life
first, everything else is far down on my “bucket list”. But, what
is life anyway? Is it just not being dead? What if you or I had a
severe stoke today and could no longer walk or talk or take care of
ones-self? Is that living? Probably not; I would call it just
“existing”.
Jesus
said…
John 10 ( WEB )
John 10 ( WEB )
[7]
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I
am the sheep’s door. [8] All who came before me are thieves and
robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. [9] I am the door. If
anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out,
and will find pasture. [10] The thief only comes to steal, kill,
and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it
abundantly.
Who
wouldn’t want an abundant life? What is this abundant life Jesus is
talking about? Nothing less than life with God, in this world and the
next. It means being saved from sin and living a life dedicated to
following Jesus.
Next,
we come to my “bucket list”. For the sake of brevity, let me
just list a few things:
Loving
God, my brethren and others as much as possible.
Listening
to the words of the Bible and having them be my guide.
Striving
to eliminate all sin in my life.
Being
a faithful Christian until I leave this world.
Helping
others see the value of living a life with God.
Notice,
I didn’t include things to do, see, or get? If I were to put these
things on the list, they would be far down because spiritual matters
must come first.
What’s
on your list? If it doesn’t include God, perhaps you should make a
new list?