Hereafter

Proverbs 23:17-18

Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;

for surely there is a hereafter,

and your hope will not be cut off.

Sometimes, the life of serving God just doesn't seem fair. You try to live a good and godly life, forsaking the world and the things in it in pursuit of holiness. Yet no matter how good you live, it seems like there is never a reward. You work hard, you give to the work of the Lord, you volunteer your time, and you get no thanks for it. And then you look around at people you know who have no interest in serving God and it seems like they have everything. They sin and laugh about it, and have plenty of money to go sin with. What's up with that?

But the Bible says we're not to worry about sinners, nor envy them in any way. The reason being is they may have a great life of fun and fulfillment here, but it will be all the fun and fulfillment they ever have if they don't know Jesus. Those people who do not receive Christ as savior will find that the pleasures of this life were as much of heaven they will ever experience. Their hereafter will be a wasteland of eternal suffering and punishment, devoid of pleasure or fulfillment of any kind.

For the believer, there is a hereafter that promises fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. Whatever we lacked or lost in this life, believers are promised restoration and recompense in this life and much more so in the life that is to come. God knows how to reward those who are his, and when we serve Him in hope, it doesn't matter what we have or have not now. Later, God evens everything up.

Just be glad He doesn't give us what we deserve--which is death and hell for our sins. Instead, He gives what Jesus purchased for us--grace, love and eternal life! Those things are worth living for.