March 3, 2024 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

By: Abby Cheng

I work in a palliative care unit (or hospice as some people know it) so I've seen lots and lots of death in my job. Working there has really hammered home the truth that every human on earth will someday die. Upon coming to that realization, many people either try their best to prolong their lives as much as possible or take on a YOLO (you only live once) mentality and do what they want, when they want.

What does Jesus tell us as his followers to do in our short time on earth? He commands us to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. It's very contradictory to what society and even our own human nature would have us do. Why would I want to go against my desires and walk a path that is promised to be full of trials and suffering? Why not do what I can to make sure my time on earth is as enjoyable as possible for as long as possible?

God probably knew this is exactly how people would think, which is why he commanded us to do the opposite, for our own good. He knows that the pleasures of this world are only temporary and no matter how good they are, they will never be able to fully satisfy the God-sized hole in our hearts that only He can fill. He knows that for humans, physical death is actually not the end of the journey but rather the beginning of eternity, which He’d much rather us spend with him in heaven than away from him in hell. Praise God for His loving wisdom that He commands us to deny ourselves and follow Him, for our good and His glory!