“font-family: Verdana; line-height: 13px;”>There’s a famous line in a movie that goes something like this: “As soon as you’re born you begin to die.” My fascination with time in the bible internalizes this fact and allows me to realize that, indeed, with each passing minute, the clock is running and at some point, our time will run out.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Now if you juxtapose that against what we know of God’s time, then however long we live is exactly how long we should. From a human perspective, everybody dies too soon, some way too soon. From a biblical perspective, every death accomplishes some purpose in God’s great plan. The question is did you accomplish yours?
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>One’s life can be summed up by the dash between your birth and death. Here lies so and so, 1950–2012, as an example. Who you were and what you did and how many you influenced is reflected in that “–”.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Funerals are sometimes thought to be “nice” depending on how many people showed up, how many came to show respect for the deceased, how many lives did he or she influence. All I’m trying to say is regardless of your plans, there’s a bigger one in play here, one that looks at time as right now, this very moment, not yesterday or tomorrow.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>It can be very sobering to understand whenever you are, time is running out. In one’s youth, time is likely never a priority. It is plentiful, beyond measure. As one ages, time becomes the most precious gift God gives. I am pretty sure many a soul just wanted one more day, to live, to love, to listen.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>What would you do knowing your time is finite and rapidly approaching? As a believer, I think you know what you should do on a daily basis. Jesus knew exactly why He was here and what He had to do. Can you propose conceptually how you would live your life if you lived it with the proverbial “end in mind?” Now I am not trying to be morbid here today. I am really expressing joy in the moment, living life to its fullest and recognizing my time is limited. That includes living for the Lord, living so others see the Christ in me. Some days I fail. But every now and then I succeed.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>The bible puts it this way: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17.
