A while back, I was hospitalized and had to have emergency surgery. While recovering, I was thinking about how I needed to take care of myself, how I needed to eat better, and exercise more. I envisioned being in the hospital in another 20 or 30 years, wishing I had eaten better and exercised more now. So, instead of waiting 20 or 30 years, I decided to take care of myself. I decided to make changes. Now I eat better and go to the gym regularly.

So, one day I was thinking about what it would be like when I was in heaven. I tried to imagine its greatness, being in the presence of Jesus, and how sin would be a thing of the past. Still, the Scripture says we can’t even begin to understand the great treasures that God has in store for us once we get there. I trust in that future hope.

But then I thought of something.

When I’m in heaven, will I be looking back at my time here on earth and have any regrets about not witnessing more, not praying more, or not reading my Bible more? Will I have used God’s gifting appropriately, or will I have buried my talents and done little with them?

I don’t want to enter eternity, not having tried to honor God as much as I could. So, like the issue of taking better care of myself, I decided that now is the time to make changes in my spiritual life. So, I pray more. I read more of God’s word. I ask God to use me more. I try to treat my wife better. I try to be a better father, a better friend, a kinder person, etc. Sometimes it isn’t easy, but it is always worth it. I want to yield more of what I am to my Lord now so that I will have used my life more for His glory. I do this because of what Jesus did on the cross. Because of His sacrifice, I can love back and seek to be more like Him.

In short, I try and do everything for the glory of the Lord.

I do not want to enter heaven with regrets. On the other hand, maybe heaven will be so good that I won’t have regrets.  I don’t know. But now is the time to put away childish things. Now is the time to seek more of God. Now is the time to do what needs to be done.

Let me ask you when you think about entering into heaven and imagine yourself looking back at where you are now, do you think that maybe you will wish you did more for God here and now? After you’re done thinking about it, make some changes.

“Lord, my Great God, please put it upon my heart to live for you now as much as possible so that when I enter into heaven, you will be pleased with the life I lived in your name.  Teach me, O Lord, to live for you in all things and to do everything for your glory.”