Every player on the team needs to try to get on base or advance those players already on base.  The team can fill the bases in every single inning, but apart from improving the batting average, it won’t mean anything unless those men on base are able to reach home.

The same principle can be applied to our lives. We can enjoy every single blessing we receive from God, growing closer to Him with every experience. But no matter how many blessings we receive, it will go all to waste unless we are able to make it to our heavenly home.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Don’t be left on base.

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.  “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” –  Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

Vanity is something useless, incomplete, hollow, empty, brief, and without foundation. That is how King Salomon defined his life; a man who did not only have wealth and fame (1 Kings 3:13), but is considered the wisest man that ever lived (1 Kings 3:12).

Solomon had the ability to enjoy life and do the right things, but didn’t lived his life according to his ability.

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.  I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure… Then I looked … and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Towards the end of his life Solomon realized that he had not benefited from what had achieved, and that the true value of life lies in seeking God.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Why Solomon’s wisdom did not help him?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. – Psalm 111:10

We can say that Solomon stopped fearing God and began to live la “vida loca”, which means  living life doing what you want, as you want and when you want, regardless of God’s will.

Like Solomon, many people achieve fame, wealth and / or power and still fail to achieve happiness.

How should we live our life?

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

Jesus didn’t give his life so we could live la “vida loca”, but an abundant life: a life that brings more life, and no condemnation.

God expects us to live our lives obeying His commandments (Love the Lord your God … love your neighbor as yourself. “- Matthew 22:37-39) and doing His work (created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:10)

Every one decides how to live their life. But the decision is not without consequences. We can live la “vida loca”, but …

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. – Matthew 16:26

How do you want to live your life? Is it the same way Solomon did? Your answer should be based on how you want to spend eternity?

It’s time to live your life, not “loca”, but a according to God’s purpose.

The expected results of Energy conservation are:

• preservation of resources for the future
• reduction of emissions, thus reducing the impact in climate change
• replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy
• avoid energy shortages

We can usually identify parallelisms between life concepts and our spiritual lives, but not in this case. In fact, the concept of energy saving is diametrically opposed in our spiritual lives. Please let me explain.

Those who trust their lives to Jesus have everlasting life (life = energy)

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life – John 6:47

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4:14

Jesus is our light (the energy that lights our way)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

In Jesus…

• energy preservation is not required – it is everlasting.
• emissions reduction is not required – by emitting spiritual energy (preaching the gospel) we positively affect the spiritual climate of our world
• we don’t need to search for renewable energy – we already have it
• there will never be energy shortages

In fact, Jesus’ followers shall not try to preserve spiritual energy, but strive to continuously use it

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light …Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” – Luke 8:16-18

This is an interesting concept: As we share the light of Jesus with others, we will be given more. This is truly renewable energy.

Let the light of Jesus continuously shine in your life.

I don’t know much about investments, but I was told that I shall make some investments now if I want to have enough income for my retirement. I have also heard that when it comes to investment I must be patient, and not worry about market fluctuations. The goal is to make earnings in the long term, and patience will allow for any lost to be eventually “recovered”.

People also invest in their careers so they can give their family a better future.

So we could say that investments means sacrifices in the present for a better life in the future. Sounds good, but even if our investments generate good returns it is uncertain if we will be able to enjoy them because no one knows when our time in this earth will be over.  So, if we worry about an uncertain future, how much more shall we worry about eternal life?

Everybody will have eternal life, the difference is the destination (“those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” – John 5:29). That is a good reason to invest in eternal life.

Through Jesus there are no sacrifices required, but we must patiently follow his teachings, and keep our hope in his promises.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. -  Galatians 6:9

Following Jesus will not always be an easy road, but will for certain result in higher returns that any other investment you can make in your life.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18

If you haven’t already done so I invite you to make the most important investment of your life: Jesus

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. – John 5:24

In these times we live in it is hard to set our hope in something.

• We could set our hope in a good job, but keeping it is completely out of our control.
• We could set our hope in the government, but even if all the leaders agreed on working for the best of our nation there would be a lot of things beyond their control.
• We could set our hope in an the economy, but the truth is that it has not been as volatile as it is now.
• We could set our hope in our savings, if any, but the constantly increasing cost of life if making us spend more than we make.
• We could set our hope in our retirement, but if we ever made it, it is possible that our retirement income could be not enough forcing us to keep working.

Nothing can be taken for granted anymore. We can’t certainly set our hope in the present, and less probably set our hopes in the future.

We could set our hope in life, but we know that sooner of later it will come to an end.  Do we have any option?

set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed – 1 Peter 1:13

We can definitely set our hope in the gift we received when we believed in Jesus: Eternal Life. This gift goes beyond our lives and beyond this world.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Christians have set their hope in things that will never perish, spoil or fade.  Are we there yet? No, but while we wait we can enjoy the benefits of living abundant lives (John  10:10), and enjoy peace beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7), among other things.

Don’t lose hope, just set it in the right place: set your hope in Jesus.

People might not been looking for the fountain of youth anymore, but certainly, they are still looking for ways to live longer and look younger. A lot of money is spent each year in cosmetic procedures in the United States. From 2004 through 2007 there were and average of over 11.5 million cosmetic procedures, with over $13 billion dollars spent in 2007. The number came down in 2008, probably because of recession, but not as much as you would expect in such hard economic situations: 10.2 million cosmetic procedures, with $11.8 billion dollars spent [ref], and this does not include the millions of dollars spent in anti-aging products. Based on this, we can say that cosmetics procedures have become the new fountain on youth.

No matter how much money people spent in cosmetic surgeries, sooner of later we all will get older.

It looks like it is difficult to accept the fact that we are born, we live and we die; and there is nothing we can do about it. The only “fountain of youth” available for us comes at a great expense, and it only provides temporary effects. However, there real fountain of youth is available for everyone free of charge.

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4:13-14

The effects of cosmetic procedures is just like drinking water from a well: whoever drinks of it will be thirsty again. But whoever receives Jesus as savior (drinks his water) will find something better than the fountain of youth: eternal life.

Yes! The fountain of youth is available to you. Are you ready for the transformation procedure of your life?

Location: Everywhere

Appointments: Whenever you want

Surgeon: Jesus

Cost: Free of charge

Warranty period: Forever