Death comes as the great equalizer, showing no favoritism to the wealthy executive in his penthouse or the humble laborer in his modest home. When the final breath escapes our lips, that is it; our last chance to do anything meaningful is gone forever. The degrees on your wall become worthless paper, your bank account becomes meaningless numbers, and your carefully crafted reputation dissolves into nothing. Imagine the horror of realizing in those final moments that you wasted decades chasing promotions, accumulating possessions, and seeking pleasures while completely neglecting your immortal soul. As Scripture warns in Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." There are no second chances, no do-overs, no appeals, only the eternal consequence of how we choose to live. This sobering finality should terrify us into immediate action, for God alone determines where we spend eternity.
Our battle against evil, the flesh, the devil, and the world, is not merely a suggestion but an urgent necessity. Every moment we delay in confronting our sinful nature, we risk falling deeper into spiritual quicksand. The flesh calls to us with seductive whispers of immediate gratification, promising happiness through gluttony, lust, and selfish pleasure. Yet these temporary satisfactions leave our souls malnourished and craving something deeper. We must recognize that true fulfillment comes not from feeding our appetites but from denying them when they conflict with God's will, remembering Christ's words: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
The devil, that ancient enemy of our souls, works tirelessly to deceive us into believing we have unlimited time to get our spiritual house in order. He whispers, "Tomorrow you can change," knowing full well that tomorrow is never guaranteed. His strategy of deception, division, diversion, and discouragement has claimed countless souls who thought they could negotiate with eternity. But Scripture warns us to "be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). We cannot afford to underestimate this enemy who has studied human weakness since the Garden of Eden.
The world around us offers glittering alternatives to heavenly treasure, career success, material wealth, social status, and endless entertainment. How tragically meaningless these pursuits become when viewed through the lens of eternity! Picture the millionaire on his deathbed, surrounded by all his possessions that he can no longer touch, realizing he spent his entire life accumulating things that meant nothing while ignoring Jesus and Mary, who offered him everything. Consider the pleasure-seeker who lived for weekend parties and sexual gratification, now facing judgment with a soul starved of grace because he fed only his flesh. Jesus Himself warned, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20). All worldly success means absolutely nothing if we arrive at death's door with souls stained by sin and hearts empty of God's love.
The time for spiritual procrastination has ended. Death marks the absolute end of every earthly opportunity, the final closing of the door on our chance to love Jesus, honor Mary, and save our souls. There will be no more Sundays to attend Mass, no more opportunities to Pray The Rosary, no more chances to receive the Eucharist or go to Confession. What unspeakable tragedy awaits those who spend their lives climbing corporate ladders while their souls descend into darkness, or who pursue fleeting pleasures while their spiritual health withers away! Jesus Christ's invitation remains open today: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Through daily prayer, regular confession, receiving the Eucharist, and consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we can still overcome every obstacle between us and eternal joy. But remember, death ends all possibilities forever. The question that will determine our eternal destiny is not whether we achieved worldly success, but whether we loved God and nurtured our souls enough to follow Him completely. Choose today whom you will serve, for tomorrow may be too late, and eternity lasts forever.
There's so much to write about, there is so much to share. Stay Tuned! Tomorrow I will write about this: "Three Questions That Help: Prepare Us For Eternity"
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
