It has been a cliche to say that “life is short and death is real.” But how many of us truly understood that life is just like a vapor (James 4:4) and we are all appointed to die (Hebrews 9:27)?
Many months ago, I was encouraging a father whose son is diagnosed with brain cancer. He is just six years old. I am not quite sure if at this moment of writing, he is still alive.
My friend and I recently visited a mother who is also terminally ill. She is in her late 30’s.
An illness that leads to death can strike anyone at any time. It is a sad reality. Last thing you know you are okay today but what about tomorrow?
I am sure that every one of us is aware of this. Nevertheless, not all of us are really prepared to face this season in life. Some people who are diagnosed with terminal illness or others who encountered accidents may have a hard time processing this truth. Regardless of how we love our life, it is only the Lord who determines it.
In Psalm 90, Moses asked God to teach him to number his days so he could apply his heart into wisdom (v12). In his finite mind, he understood how fleeting our lives can be. The Scripture also tells us how we ought to live our lives knowing its brevity. Indeed, we can never boast about tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1) because we do not know what lies ahead of us. The only thing we can hold onto is now.
We will all die. As Christians, death should not be something that we set aside or brush off in our minds. If we are awakened to this reality, we would pray the same prayer as Moses.
This brought me to look at my own life. I am going through the rough path of battling an illness. The reality of death just sunk in my being when I learned about it. I knew death could come to anyone, but I was not prepared for that “one” might be me. I thought I am still young to die. This caused me to ponder more about life and to number my days in line with eternity.
Our days are numbered. Having known this, the question of “preparedness” will come around. How are we using our days for the Lord?
If as Christians, we do not look forward to meeting God face to face, then it is just good to say that we are enjoying our comfortable life here on earth.
Everyday that I would wake up is a great joy because there is another chance to see God’s goodness and mercy in my life. More so, He has given me another opportunity to serve Him. Isn’t it amazing? All those things that made me complain or grumble (like people, lack of material things, worries about the future, day to day struggles, etc) before don’t matter anymore.
My mantra now is, “live as if it’s your last day.” So, if it is my last day, how can I make it right with Him?
There is not much to think about now but to exhaust this remaining energy for God. For Christians, there is no fear in death. Only the sad feeling of being missed and missing our loved ones. I like how one missionary expressed this when she said that we should not fear death because it is the cold hand of God.
My dear friend, numbering our days is essential for our souls. Through counting our short years here on earth, we will be careful with how we live each second of our lives. Don’t wait until it is too late and the only thing we have is regret. It is a joy to serve God with all our strength and might. For days will come when all we can do is look back and say, “I could have done better for God.”
I hope that we will carefully choose how we spend our days in line with eternity. We can just live our life to the fullest, if we are doing what we are supposed to do according to God’s will and purpose. Our life on earth is just a preparation for our eternal destination.
You’ve got to live every moment
As though it was your last,
Before the thief of always
Steals tomorrow from your grasp.
Before the chance to know His love
Has somehow passed you by,
Let your heart reach out, right here, right now,
For the Lord to touch your life.
Like how this song goes, our tomorrow is not in our hands. Live every moment as though it is our last.
One thing that we can ask ourselves, “How am I preparing for that destination?”
Read more: Jaci Velasquez – Thief Of Always Lyrics | MetroLyrics
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