Have you ever met anyone of late who is not concerned about his/her retirement benefits? We are all encouraged to diversify our long-term investments in stocks, bonds and mutual funds – so that over time we will have accumulated enough wealth to comfortably live on after retirement.
However, as you know, all of this is predicated upon three major premises: 1) you remain employed; 2) you remain healthy; 3) you don’t die prematurely. Although you may meet all your goals, God’s Word teaches that one day we will all die. And regardless of when death calls upon us, we will be unable to take any of our worldly gains with us. The following passage of Scripture further drives home this point.
Luke 12:15-21,
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Have you ever considered that you can invest in an eternal retirement plan – one that pays eternal benefits – benefits that will remain with you for all of eternity?
Matthew 6:19-21 states,
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 compels,
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
If you still aren’t convinced that you will reap eternal benefits from investing in an eternal retirement plan, consider the following Scriptures.
1 Peter 1:3-5,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
2 Timothy 4:8,
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
James 1:12,
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
But let it be understood here that you can only invest in an eternal retirement plan through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord. Anything less [meaning, attempting to lay up treasures in heaven without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ] will result in an empty worthless account. The response from Christ will be as recorded in Matthew 7:22-23,
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Our prayer is that you will seek to learn how to invest in treasures that will never be undervalued or reduced in value – yielding eternal benefits.
