In Numbers 23:10 Balaam says of Jacob, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his.” This suggests that the death of the righteous is different and preferred from that of the unrighteous. We can face eternity with the knowledge that it is well with our soul and that heaven awaits us. We can face eternity with fear and uncertainty.
The Pastor discussed five secrets discovered through the wisdom of people who have lived long enough to reflect upon life, death, happiness, and wholeness. The secret is to put these things into practice.
- To be true to ourselves,
- To leave no regrets,
- To become love,
- To love the moment
- To give more than we take.
Resolve to pluck the sweet fruit that 2009 will offer. Thank God, that this is the day, the week, the month, and the year that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.
KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING
Numbers 23:8-10
I. The Death of the Righteous
“Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his.” Numbers 23:8-10 NKJV
The death of the righteous is different and preferred.
We can face eternity knowing it is well with our soul or with fear and uncertainty.
II. Five Secrets to Successful Living
From John Izzo’s book The Five Things You Must Discover Before You Die.
A. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
Most know they are in this world for a purpose and spend much of their lives trying to find that purpose.
B. LEAVE NO REGRETS
Too often, fear of failure keeps us from attempting things of significance. It is okay to fail.
Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14, NKJV).
C. BECOME LOVE
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.1 Jn. 4:8 NKJV
If God lives within us, we are the temple of Holy Spirit and we become the embodiment of love to those around us.
D. LIVE THE MOMENT
Each day holds its fruit some sweet and some bitter. We make decisions concerning it.
- We can ignore the fruit.
- We can dismiss the fruit.
- We can pluck the bitter fruit.
- We can find the sweet fruit, pluck it, and enjoy it in the moment.
Paul calls this redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Eph. 5:16 NKJV
E. GIVE MORE THAN YOU TAKE
If we live only thinking about what we can get, we will always be disappointed wanting more.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 NKJV
