Have You Developed a Bucket List?
It seems to be popular these days to have a “bucket list.” The term gained popularity after a 2007 movie, “The Bucket List.” The two main characters of the movie, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, both of whom were dying with cancer, put together a “bucket list” of things they would like to do before they died. Then, they set out to do the things on their lists. A bucket list, therefore, is a list of things one hopes to accomplish before he or she dies.
As I contemplate the New Year that is approaching, I find myself thinking about the things I planned to accomplish in 2016 and whether I have accomplished the resolutions I set at the beginning of 2016. Some personal goals I set have been accomplished; others, have not.
The beginning of a New Year presents a good opportunity to think about “spiritual” resolutions for the New Year, and also to put together a “bucket list” of long-term spiritual goals to accomplish before we die. Of course, we are not promised another day, much less another year. Life is pictured in Scripture as a “vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Certainly, spiritual goals we set should take priority over any temporal, mundane goals such as seeing the Grand Canyon or going skydiving. If one dies without seeing the Grand Canyon, there will be no lasting consequences after death. However, there are some things which must be on every person’s spiritual bucket list:
First, becoming a Christian is one thing that should be a priority on every person’s bucket list. Every responsible person must be a follower of Christ in order to go to heaven (John 14:6). The following verses teach what one must do to become a Christian (Romans 10:17; John 8:24; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38). Please consider these passages and make becoming a Christian the top item on your bucket list.
Second, remain faithful to the Lord. Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Some begin the Christian life with great enthusiasm, but in time, the zeal one once had may fade until one becomes unfaithful. Jesus will one day say to some, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). Each one should desire to be among the “faithful” on the day of Judgement.
A third item on your bucket list should be to attempt to save others. Jesus gave His disciples the commission to go, teach, and to baptize (Mark 16:15-16). Every Christian should use his/her example to influence others for the Lord, and we should seize opportunities to teach others God’s Word that is able to save (James 1:21). Family members, friends, and co-workers would be prime candidates of people to lead to Christ.
There are other, more specific things we should add to our spiritual bucket lists, but these are the bare essentials. Have you ever thought about making a “spiritual” bucket list? If not, now would be a great time to do that. Begin with these few thoughts and add others as well. Happy New Year!
