Sometime ago, a friend of mine was elevated to a position of Full-Professor in his University. As friends and associates of this good friend of mine came together to celebrate, someone asked: “Prof, so what’s next? The celebrant waited for a moment and then answered: “I have arrived at the final bus station”. I have reflected on both the question and the response and have concluded that my friend was yet to reach a point of arrival. This feat is not and should not be his final goal. Our goal is eternal life—which is the type of life God lives. It will take all of our life here to prepare: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors (Alma 34:32). If we make the mistake of thinking we have arrived, or thinking that we have no further need to climb, we will have made a big mistake.
Consider the parable of the rich man-
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12: 16-19)
I believe that this rich man would have felt that he had ARRIVED. He thought he was in control of the situation, he felt he had the world in his palm. The rich man thought he had reached his goal, perhaps even his final destination.
In thinking like this, the rich man and the Professor in my story are similar. I hope that we are different. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints, have you arrived at your final destination when you are baptized, confirmed a member of the church, become a priesthood holder or hold a calling in the church? Have you reached the final bus station as a returned missionary or having received the saving ordinances?
All this effort and all of these steps to grow spiritually are not the end but are means to an end, and the end we seek is eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God! These steps and our efforts are a continuing part of the process, but not a state of arrival. We should remind ourselves continually of the eternal purpose of all that we do to prepare to live with the Savior someday.
May we learn to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven and be rich toward God. (Luke 12: 21)
I testify to you that all that we do in the church are important aids in eternal progression, which is in itself the end. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.