Friday is April 15th the
traditional tax filing deadline for all of America except those who file in a
fiscal year and those who…you know the exceptions…always exceptions. This year
April 15th is not the real deadline but Monday April 18th
instead. Due to a D.C. holiday, we procrastinators have 3 additional days to
get our paperwork in order and the appropriate checks written for taxes due. I
don’t know if it is good to know or bad to know.
Knowledge is king. Most of us
want to know what will happen and when before it does. We say, “So we can
prepare.” Death and taxes are the only sure thing in life some say. Know this
you are going to die! I told you “the what” just not the when but that alone
should be enough for you to start preparing for your death. I know you and you
know you. You won’t start. Death is not as certain as some believe because when
Jesus enters the picture all bets are off. The empty tomb reveals this as Jesus
was gone. Jesus has told us he will return. Jesus’ disciples asked him when he
would come into his Kingdom. Jesus said he did not know when only his Father in
heaven knew. That means we have to be ready because we know it will happen. But
are we ready? Is our family ready for the trumpet to sound and the dead in Christ
to rise? Probably not because we have a ball tournament next weekend or a
fishing trip planned or a Disney vacation booked.
Knowing and doing are two
completely different things. It is one thing to know something will happen and
a completely different thing to take steps to prepare for it to happen. We know
we will die but don’t have wills or burial insurance because we don’t want to
think about it. No action plus no preparation equals nothing at all. We say we
know Jesus is coming back yet we put off prayer today or Bible reading and
study because “we’ve got a little time.” Do we? How is it you know we have some
time? Would it not be better to be prepared today for what might come today but
will come in some tomorrow?
Death and taxes are sure things
until you put Jesus in the equation and then all bets are off. He does that.
Jesus changes everything. The grave has no victory because of him. Death has no
sting because of him. Death is a transition to more life, life upon life. We
think about death and right now taxes (did you forget a form or deduction?) but
knowing about them and preparing are still very different. I would venture you
have not thought about Jesus returning today or in the next say 3 minutes have
you? I haven’t either because we are so consumed with here and now and the
problems of living today. Just so you know Jesus said,
27 All
things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the
Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son
desires to reveal Him. 28 “Come to Me, all of you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 All
of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.
30 For
My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 HCSB
Do you see Jesus will give you
knowledge and rest if you come to Him? Oh, and no taxes as he paid them at the cross.
In
HIS service and yours,
BroG
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