In the 1966 British movie “Alfie,” the title song poses the questions “What’s it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live?” These questions are ones that each of us must answer for ourselves.
Are we just the product of a sexual union that lives only to exist and die, with the time in-between filled without meaning? Or do we have a sense that there may we something beyond death, but haven’t been exposed to or sought out the answer enough to embrace it? Maybe our lives are guided by a power stronger than ourselves, which promises us that life doesn’t end on Earth but continues for all eternity in a place determined by our actions here.
Religion, or the absence of it in our lives, determines into which group we are a part of.
Those who reject religion or do not have a God in their lives go through life having nothing to look forward to beyond the here and now. They have no moral compass to guide their actions. These are the people who don’t think twice about lying, cheating or committing crimes. They are not committed to faithful relationships. It’s easy for them to exist unconcerned about others, only trying to answer the question, “What’s in it for me?” Their motto could well be found in the words of St. Paul, “If the dead are not raised: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” (1 Cor. 15:32)
Some people have never been exposed to religion by their parents, teachers or associates and have no concept of a loving God and a life after death, yet their natural instincts tell them there must be more to living than just this. However, they’re not motivated to seek out the answer and they go through life without any direction.
Similarly, in the same self-contented group are those who were introduced to God and a promise of eternal reward in exchange for love of God and neighbor, but never made a lasting commitment to this quest. Many of these people hedge their bets by doing an occasional act of charity, never asking forgiveness for their misdeeds and delude themselves into thinking that if they haven’t killed anyone, that if there is a heaven, they’ll probably wind up there. They need to be reminded that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor 5:10)
Finally, there are those who embrace the presence of a loving God. A God who is true love.
They believe in everlasting life after death. They try to pattern their lives after that of Christ, staying faithful to His teachings, acknowledging and asking forgiveness for their sins. Their lives are guided by a love of God and neighbor. A final judgment motivates them to spread the good news of Christ and to bring others to Him.
On the outside, it might appear that all of the people in the latter group would go to heaven. But as they are well aware, they will be judged not just by their actions that others see, but also by what’s in their hearts, that only God sees.
It’s never too late to change our perspective on life. Those non-believers and those who are complacent can often be transformed in a special way by observing or being touched by the actions of believers. The believers can strive every day to improve their relationship with God by focusing on how they love their neighbor.
So whatever group we find ourselves in, we must be a people of love, for to borrow another line from the song, Alfie, “Without true love we just exist.”
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