So many Christians can not see past this fleshly world, and only focus on the “rewards” in this life, despite the overabundance of teachings in the New Testament stressing just the opposite. 

Our LORD has forever been concerned with the condition and future of our souls.  All men (not animals!) are born with a soul that lives forever.  Forever is a long, long time.  It is the choice we make in this temporal, fleshly life that determines where the soul will spend eternity.  If you think we just came through an interminable, desolate winter – imagine eternity without any Light.

Proverbs 10:3

 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish:

but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you do not know the wonderful knowledge of peace and hope that only He can give, please, right now, ask Him to be your Savior. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and that you know that you can not save yourself.  Look at those pictures above?  Which one do you want?  Eternity forever alone, forever desolate and miserable?  Or eternity in the Light with your Creator?  Many people worry about leaving a legacy, wanting their names to be remembered in history – notice that the incredibly rich man in the following Parable is nameless. . .

Luke 16:19-25

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² 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;

²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ 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.

²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶ And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹ And he said unto him,  If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rose from the dead.