Much has been said lately about survival. People everywhere are afraid that “something is going to happen”— a nuclear holocaust—a breakdown of government (lawlessness and anarchy)—a great earthquake or other natural disaster—even something as simple as a cutoff of oil supplies—anything that may disrupt the orderly ongoing of the world as we have known it.
What can be done? Food is a necessity, so people buy “survival packs” of canned and dried food and store them, hidden even from the neighbors.
Neighbors? Hungry neighbors? That would be another danger to those precious food supplies. Maybe it would be better not to have neighbors! Better to buy a bit of land as far from everyone as possible, and there build a miniature fortress to protect those vital supplies.
Finally, in case someone should come demanding food and shelter, there must be a weapon for defense. A gun is added, with a supply of shells, and there he sits, a full-fledged survivalist. Let the earth shake, let nations fall, let come what will, he will survive.
BUT—for how long? His provisions are all for earth, all for time, and if he has made no provision for eternity, what will the end be? Everything he has done has been to protect his body, but in Luke 12:4-5 the Lord Jesus tells us to “be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do . . . but . . . fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell.”
A life on earth, no matter how carefully protected or (if possible) prolonged, is still only “a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). How much better if our survivalist had been “laying up in store . . . a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life ” (1 Timothy 6:19).
How could one do that? The Lord Jesus said, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). It’s as simple as that!
Now, being really prepared for the future—the unending future of eternity—he can say with confidence, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Fullness of joy! Pleasures forevermore! What are a few short years of survival on this earth compared with that?