A successful trip is one in which the plans that we made are fulfilled.   A wonderful trip is when we experience more than was expected.   

Sometimes we leave 'home' on a trip to establish a new 'home'.   Such trips are both exciting and terrifying for the same reasons:
→ excitement for the unknown.   
→ terror of the unknown.   

Our existence is an utterly amazing thing.   We did not have to exist.   We did nothing to enable our existence.   We can't imagine anything existing apart from us.   

In many respects our life is a trip.   I am reminded of what Jesus said:

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. - Joh 16:28 The Son and the the Father are One.

Jesus left 'home', came to do a job, and then He returned 'home'.   

Unlike Jesus who is eternal, we seem to originate at human birth.   I say, seem, because we have no recollection of existence prior to our birth.   

Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations. - Jer 1:5 We each existed in the mind of our Creator before we were born of water into human existence.      What that means is entirely unclear.

But regardless of the issues about existence, we do exist.   We came from non-existence to existence.   

The question that comes to mind is: "Are we now eternal or do we return to non-existence?"

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of the Lord is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Rom 6:23 The sin that condemns to the Lake Of Fire is rejection of Jesus Christ.      The gift of the Lord is Eternal Life: remission of sins, regeneration and Spirit Baptism.      We all know that there is physical death and spiritual death.     Adam and Eve did not physically die when they sinned.     However, they spiritually died immediately.      When a person sins, whether believer or unbeliever, the result is an aspect of death.     Somethings shrinks or shrivels instead of growing when sin occurs.      God gives us Eternal Life when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.     That gift is irrevokable.     However, if we let sin reign in our mortal bodies we will suffer the consequences of that sin which will destroy our physical lives, our testimonies and our walk with the Lord.      Instead of us living a victorious, productive life with treasure laid up in heaven, we will be saved as by fire.

This verse seems to answer the question about existence.   It is clear that we have the opportunity to be eternal - by receiving the Spirit Of Christ through faith in Him.   But the term 'death' is somewhat unclear in light of the concept of resurrection.   

It is safe to say that death is the absence of life.   One cannot be both alive and dead.   

Back to The Trip ⇒

A trip must have a starting point and an ending point.   

What is the 'point' of existence?   

Where are we headed?   
What is our end 'point'?   

" Do you want to go for a ride?"
When we were a child we would respond to this question with a simple yes or no.   

When we are older we follow that question with some other questions such as:
Where are we going?   
How long will we be gone?   

With the preponderance of evidence that our physical existence is not eternal the above questions aught to be considered and answered with some level of confidence.   

Otherwise, we are like the one child who just jumps in the car with no questions and simply takes the trip.   

Or we are like the child who declines the trip in favor of whatever is occupying their attention at the moment.   

The first child may or may now have a good experience, depending on the driver, his plans and driving ability.   

The second child never takes the trip and so never experiences the good or bad that it brings.   

In reality, though, the second child takes his own trip where he attempts to.maintain control of his experiences.   He uses up the time and life in his physical body one way or another.   

Our Creator has determined:
→ that each of us would exist
→ that each of us would take a trip
→ that we can choose where we go

See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; - Deu 30:15

In that I command you this day to love the Lord your Creator, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the Lord your Creator shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. - Deu 30:16

But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; - Deu 30:17 The things that lead to Idolatry is resistance to the voice of God (His Word) and looking for alternatives to God.      Every False god brings its worshippers into Bondage.

I denounce unto you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. - Deu 30:18

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: - Deu 30:19 This verse defines the exustential Choice for every oerson ever born.      Choose God and Live.     Reject Gid and be Destroyed.

That you may love the Lord your Creator, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. - Deu 30:20 Our purpose in Existence is to be in a Love Relationship with God whereby we experience His Life.

Yes, this is Old Testament scripture but the Lord who spoke this to Israel is the same Lord who was born in the flesh and is called Jesus.   

The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. - Joh 10:10 The thief is Satan who is the inspiration for all the evil in the world.      Whereas the 'I' is Jesus who offers us Eternal Life and Abundant Life.      This verse is a powerful statement contrasting the nature of the enemy with the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.      Note that the enemy takes by force what is ours, while we must appropriate by faith what is ours in Christ Jesus.      The appropriation is not a 'one and done' thing.     Rather, it is an ongoing process throughout our lives on this earth.      Jesus has given us His life in giving us His Holy Spirit who is in every believer who has asked to be filled.     We aught to invoke His life into every aspect of our walk in the earth.