Many years ago I was sitting in the private office of the then reigning boxing champion of the world. Sitting with us were also various members of his team.

As with nearly all boxing champions, the gentleman had worked his way up from nothing. He was proud of his accomplishments and he was never at a loss to let people know.

So it was on that particular day. As we were all laughing and talking he referenced his wealth. He had literally paid with his blood to reach the pinnacle of his profession and the wealth it provided him was staggering. But I viewed it differently and I said so.

My response to my champion friend was that everything he had was going to go to someone else when he died. I said that his wife could marry another man when he died and that man could reap all of the benefits of his wealth that he had paid in blood to gain. I also said to him that I had been to many funerals, but I had never been to one that had a big panel truck in the funeral procession that was carrying the earthly wealth to the grave with the deceased person.

My friend has worked hard to accomplish his dream but he cannot take his dream with him to the grave.

The last I spoke to my friend he had not accepted Christ as his Savior, which means if he still has not made that decision the best he will ever experience is right here on earth. When he dies, his eternity will not include the glamor, glitz, and paparazzi he still today enjoys.

The old saying that you cannot take it with you is true beyond any shadow of doubt. My friend shed blood to get to where he is, but does that really matter if when we die our eternity is spent in hell.

Above all else that we do in this life, we must make sure of where we spend eternity. We do not know the day and time when our passing will occur, which makes it even more important to make sure of our salvation while we have the opportunity. Because as the scripture says: “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

READ:
Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal,
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal;
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12: 19-21
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease. Eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool; this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.