An old man tells the story about his life-long friend who is about to go on a journey….

‘My dear friend was due to set off on a long Journey - partly by sea and partly by air, and the day before he left, he visited me, and we had tea together.

We had known each other for a good many years, and as he left, I wished him well.

“Good luck, old man. I hope you have a good journey, and I look forward to seeing you when you are home again.”

The two shook hands and his friend replied:

“I don’t know what is in store for me, but ever since I knew I was to undertake this trip, the words of a great hymn came to my mind and have been a great encouragement to me.”’

The hymn was:

I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
God's mercy underlies.

I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.

Our whole lives are a journey. The common phrase often used to describe that journey is of course “From the cradle to the grave.”

Not a very inspiring journey though, is it?

And it is also not very accurate. Our journey starts even before our birth. The Bible says God knew us (individually) before we were even conceivedin our mother's womb. (Jeremiah 1:5a) God is the eternal, all-knowing, God.

And the journey of life does not finish at the grave. Well, life in the form of our earth-bound body does, but for our eternal souls there is a future, after the death of the body. In fact, there is an eternity to come, after death. And we had better know where that eternity will be spent!

It will either be spent with God in heaven through  eternal life, (if we will come to Him through His beloved Son, Jesus) or it will be spent separated from God for all eternity, by our sin and our refusal to come to God.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

Please think very carefully about how you are preparing for this all-important journey called life.