The Reality of Our Destination
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
We live in a world that does everything possible to avoid the subject of death. We celebrate youth, extend life, and fill our days with noise and distraction so we do not have to face the quiet truth that our lives are brief. Yet Scripture gently pulls back the curtain and reminds us that our days are “an handbreadth”—a span so small it can be measured across a palm. Like breath on a cold morning, life appears for a moment and then vanishes. The psalmist does not write these words to frighten us, but to awaken us. To know our frailty is not despair—it is clarity. Recently, while reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn, I was freshly challenged by his reminder that every person is moving steadily toward an eternal destination, whether we think about it or not.
The sobering reality is that eternity is not merely a distant theological concept; it is the destination toward which every life is moving. Because of sin, humanity does not drift naturally toward Heaven. Our hearts, left to themselves, move away from God rather than toward Him. Scripture speaks plainly: sin separates us from a holy God. That separation, if not healed through Christ, becomes eternal. This is why the gospel is not advice—it is rescue. The cross is not improvement—it is deliverance. As Alcorn emphasizes, unless our sin problem is resolved through Christ, Heaven is not our automatic destination. The realization that life is brief and eternity is certain is meant to drive us not to fear, but to Christ, the only One who reconciles us to God.
Believers through the centuries have lived with this awareness. Some wrote memento mori—remember you will die—at the front of their ledgers so they would weigh daily choices against eternal realities. This is not morbid thinking; it is wise living. When we remember that life is short, priorities sharpen. Relationships matter more. Sin loses its attraction. Faithfulness gains urgency. The brevity of life is not meant to darken our days but to brighten our focus, reminding us that our true home lies beyond the horizon of time.
Take an honest look at how you are spending your days—your time, your energy, and your affections. Are you living as though life on earth is permanent, or as though eternity is real and near? Let the brevity of life move you toward Christ, deepen your devotion, and shape choices that will matter forever.
"The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory." — Psalm 64:10
Daily Scripture Reading
Join us as we read through the Bible in one year, growing together in God’s Word day by day. Click on any underlined verse to access Pastor Burns’ helpful study notes and deeper insights.
Look up a different passage
Search for any chapter or scripture above to begin.
This Week's Radio Program
Week Forty-Four • November 1, 2026
What are you Seeking?
In this week’s message titled "What are you Seeking?" from Kitchener Baptist Church, Pastor Jerry A. Burns explores John 20 to show how the world searches for meaning in the wrong places. Listeners will hear how Solomon looked for purpose in worldly success and pleasures only to find vanity, and how Mary Magdalene sought her Savior at the tomb, weeping for the dead before discovering He had risen.
Pastor Burns reminds us that true life is found only in Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ gives us life, and His resurrection is the key to our salvation and eternal life. We must choose life, for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Join us on "Timeless Truths" as we turn to God's Word for these vital answers.
Listen to Past Programs
Recent Devotionals
Catch up on the last few days.