I was sitting here in my office this morning working on my income tax return. As I was looking over some figures, I thought about a phrase my dad used to say. He said, "There are only two things you have to do in this life: pay your taxes and die." I think what he meant was that when it comes to paying your taxes and dying, there was no way around either of those two.
Now of course it goes without saying that we all know that there have been plenty of people who have tried to get around paying their taxes. We've heard stories about people who just refuse to pay. (We usually hear about those people when we see them being arrested on TV.)
There are others who employ accountants to look for every possible deduction and loophole. I am certainly in favor of getting every deduction that I possibly can too.
And then of course we have heard about people who cheat on their taxes. We have seen these folks on TV too from time to time; from the common worker all the way up to the CEO.
But on the other hand, no one is cheating death. Even those who make the record books at age 110, or 115, in time they too will die. Sooner or later, all men die. And for the most part, for those who cheat on their taxes, sooner or later they will be caught.
So as I sit there thinking about my income tax return, and that phrase my dad used to say, it hit me. Yes, I really do have to pay my taxes. And, yes, I understand that all people die. But, there is something that is going to bring death to an end. And probably taxes too!
As I looked at my income tax return I started thinking about the return of Christ. Now that return is a whole lot different than an income tax return, isn't it? When Christ returns the Bible says that all those who have died in Christ, as well as those who are alive in Christ, will meet him in the air.
The Bible also talks about death itself coming to an end. It will be the beginning of those in Christ enjoying eternal life. It is certainly a great day to look forward to.
Meanwhile, here today in the United States, with all the spending our government is doing, anyone with half a brain knows that our taxes are going up substantially. That is something that is not very pleasant to look forward to. But like dad implied, there is no way around it.
But I do believe that when Christ returns, taxes will be over with as well. Whatever system God institutes, I can certainly bet you that it will be a whole lot better than anything man has come up with over the centuries.
And so as I finished up the work on my income tax return, I was encouraged remembering the return of Christ. That great day is coming. And even though there are some Christians who don't believe that he is coming back, the Bible still promises that he is indeed coming back.
But until he does, I cannot simply sit in my chair and hope that it will be today and do nothing. Yes, of course I hope he comes back today, but if he doesn't, I must then live the life I have been given. I can chose to believe God's promises to me for this life: promises of grace, mercy, health, wisdom and prosperity.
We have each been given the precious gift of life. Christ has not returned yet. Until he does, even though those two things that my dad said are true, we can chose to believe God right now, today, and live our lives to the fullest.
