Daily Encouragement: Day 230

From Handbook to Wisdom, Day 230

THE CRIME OF A WASTED LIFE

Behold, the Lord God will come with power,
and His arm will rule for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense accompanies Him.
He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs in His arms
and carry them close to His heart;
He will gently lead those that have young.
(Isaiah 40:10–11)

Multitudes who sleep in the
dust of the earth will awake,
some to everlasting life, others to
shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise will shine like the
brightness of the heavens,
and those who lead many to
righteousness like the stars
for ever and ever.
(Daniel 12:2–3)

In the movie Papillon, the main character was a criminal who was imprisoned for life for crimes against the French state. The film portrayed the dreams he had while in prison. In one dream, he stood before a tribunal for a crime. He pleaded with the judge that he was not guilty for the crime for which he was being tried. The judge replied that he was not being tried for that crime, but for a crime that is the most heinous crime of the human race. Papillon asked what crime it was. He replied, “The crime of a wasted life.” Papillon wept, “Guilty, guilty.” The judge pronounced the sentence of death.

The greatest possible impact the life of a person without Christ can have on eternity is on the order of a large ship’s impact on the ocean. It leaves a wake, which may be very impressive for the moment, but which is gone without a trace within a few moments more. God grant that we invest our lives well by pursuing God’s purpose for our lives and by living with a heart for the things He says will endure.

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