15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Ephesians 5:15-20
…people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.
Isaiah 40:6b
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14
Life on Earth is a one-time offer. You either use it or lose it.
1) Live with intentionality because ETERNITY IS REAL
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise…
Ephesians 5:15
…if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
1 Corinthians 15:32b
And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
1 Corinthians 15:19
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Luke 12:20-21
“If there is one message that I can give to my generation it is this: Right now counts forever. What you and I do now has eternal significance. The now is important because it counts for a long, long time. The secular is important because it is linked forever to the sacred.” —R.C. Sproul
Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live forever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only 70 years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live forever. —C.S. Lewis
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
2) Seize your unique opportunity
…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:16
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8
Our one life will soon pass, and only what’s done for Christ will last.
3) Live on purpose
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17
So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
This is your purpose. This is why you’re here.
1) You were planned for God’s pleasure.
2) You were created to be like Christ.
3) You were shaped for service.
4) You were made for mission.