Do You Have Enduring Thankfulness?

© 2022 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Do we understand the true meaning of thankfulness?

I once saw a picture of a corporate CEO sailing a beautiful yacht.  He had recently received a very large seven figure bonus for superb performance.  He looked quite pleased and, perhaps, even thankful for his station in life.  However, I’d heard, from members of his staff, that he had a foul mouth and was frequently abusive to them.  This reminded me of the Lord Jesus’ description concerning two men.

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:19-24)

Abraham informed the rich man, that his request could not be honored.  During life, this rich man may have felt thankful for the temporary things he had acquired.  However, when death came, he ended up in Hell.  I suspect his thankfulness for those things quickly disappeared.  He no longer enjoyed any of them.

Lazarus, however, had apparently trusted in God, even during his life of poverty and sickness.  Now he faced an eternal future of joy, gladness, and great thankfulness for everlasting blessings God had provided for him.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, paid sin’s penalty by His death on the cross.  He then rose from the dead showing His victory.  If you die without asking Him to deliver you from your sins, you will suffer the same eternal torment that the rich man is still enduring.

As you prepare to celebrate the “Thanksgiving” holiday this year, will your thankfulness focus on a future of eternal blessing, or on temporary enjoyments of this life?

Without eternal salvation, available only through faith in Jesus Christ, thankfulness for things in this life shall quickly evaporate.  When this life ends, they will no longer be yours to enjoy.

How lasting shall your thankfulness be?

 

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