How then does wisdom prepare for the future? By doing what can only be done at the present time, because the future will take away that opportunity. Christ said, ‘I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work’ (John 9:4). Those who were alive on earth during his ministry were urged to, ‘discern the signs of the times’ (Matthew 16:3), and exhorted: ‘Walk while ye have the light’ (John 12:35). True conscious wisdom, which is found in man but not in the animals, is able to understand when an opportunity presents itself which will not be available in the future. The importance of taking advantage of this limited opportunity is proportional to the significance of the matter in hand. For those who have only a short time in this life, there is no more important concern than securing salvation, for once we die in an unconverted state, there is nothing further that can be done to help us in heaven or earth.