Seizing the Moment—or Seizing Eternity?

"You only live once, so enjoy the ride while it lasts! Don't bother about tomorrow!"

The Apostle Paul makes an interesting point: if death is the end of everything—if there is no resurrection—then the logical approach to life would be to indulge in all the pleasure we can while we have the chance. He writes, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” (1 Cor. 15:32).

Isn’t this the very mindset of our world today? Many people reject the idea of Jesus’ resurrection or the hope of life beyond the grave. But if death is truly the final curtain, what is the point of it all?

Why spend years studying for exams, working hard to build a career, saving to buy a home, or striving for success—if, in the end, everything vanishes like mist? If our existence is nothing more than a fleeting moment between birth and oblivion, then life itself becomes absurd. The wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor—all share the same fate: emptiness, darkness, nothingness. Even love and hate, joy and sorrow, good and evil lose all lasting meaning.

We would be like children building sandcastles on the shore, only to watch them crumble as the tide washes them away. Yet here we are, busy constructing our own little empires on the edge of eternity—only to be swept away and forgotten.

If this is the case, then why not just surrender to pleasure? Carpe diem! Seize the moment, for that is all we have. If we are passengers on a sinking ship, why not throw one last party? Let’s drown out the despair with laughter, music, and distraction—not because we have something to celebrate, but because we have nothing else at all. Let us numb ourselves to the absurdity of our fleeting lives.

But what if death is not the end? What if the resurrection of Jesus is true?

If Christ truly rose from the dead, then there is a God who has power over life and death. That means our actions—whether good or bad—have eternal significance. And if sin is not forgiven, it is a burden that will follow us beyond the grave, leading to the condemnation of all who ignored their Creator.

Yet there is hope. The gospel declares that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). If we trust in Him, our sins are forgiven, and life takes on a new meaning. We can eat and drink, not to forget our emptiness, but to rejoice in the God who gives us all things to enjoy. Yes, we will still face trials and suffering in this world, but we have a hope that even death cannot destroy. For us, death is not the end—it is the beginning of eternal joy in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Friend, what will you choose? Will you merely seize the moment, or will you take hold of Christ by faith and secure both time and eternity?