Toys:  Lures in the Trap of Death

© 2020 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

There’s a popular expression which says, “He that dies with the most toys, wins.”  I’d like to ponder this statement for a few moments.

This statement really assumes that only temporal achievements matter.  I once had a serious conversation about eternal matters with an Air Force Colonel that I really liked.  He told me, “I believe that when you’re dead, you’re dead.”  He believed that one’s existence ended at death.  For one who believes this, it makes sense to maximize your fun and “toys” during your short existence.  After all, if death brings only oblivion, why expend effort on anything that doesn’t contribute to the here and now?  I told him that, if his basic assumption was wrong, he would be in deep trouble someday.  He agreed but seemed unconcerned about it.  He was significantly older than I, and is, by now, probably experiencing the consequences of his assumption.

Scripture recognizes fallen man’s perverted view of existence and describes a very wealthy man who held this view long ago.  Listen to Jesus’ description of this man.

“…And he [Jesus] said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  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.  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?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:15-21)

Rather than eternal oblivion, Scripture teaches that death ushers in either eternal joy or unending horror for the departed.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

How about you?

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