2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
THEME OF THE DAY: MAKE IT COUNT. IT GOES BY FAST. My wife and I just started our customary afternoon walk, and before she could initiate any conversation between us, I said, “We are dying.” I glanced over to her to see her reaction and without words, I think I heard, “That is morbid.” Then I said, “Think about it. We have a lot of hurting people in our church. God’s people are suffering cancer, serious physical ailments, and emotional pain ranging from depression to loneliness to grief.” Then I said “No one escapes. No one.” The conversation was now rolling as we discussed the inevitable next topic, the brevity of life. And we both agreed, truly life is like a vapor or mist as James would say, and it is summed up nicely by Job in the book bearing his name – Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not (Job 14:1-2).
Have you recently looked in the mirror, gone down memory lane of your life, or had a conversation similar to that my wife and I had pondering just how fast life goes by? I read somewhere these words – “When we are young, we cannot wait to get old. And when we are older, we wish we were young again.” There is some truth here and especially as we age. Our physical abilities weaken, our mental capacities lose some of their sharpness, we tire more easily, and our stamina is weaker. That is life in a sin-cursed and dying world. And now let me tie all that in with a return to the walk my wife and I were on and the deepening conversation about death and life’s brevity.
When it was my turn to weigh-in, I remembered today’s scripture, and told her, “I just want to finish well. I want to know my life counted for the Lord and that I made a difference.” She wants the same thing. I am sure you do as well. And if we want today’s scripture to be spoken of with confidence about us at our funeral or be placed on our gravestone in the cemetery, two things must happen . . .
First, develop a spiritual conviction that the only life worth living, bringing forth satisfaction and God-given contentment, is one pursuing the Lord’s priorities – investing in people and serving in the Gospel. Nothing is more pleasing to the soul than to be living life consistently obeying the Great Commission – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).
Next, take seriously the brevity of life. It is short. Think often how fast is seems to whiz by us, and don’t commit the sin of God-dishonoring procrastination. If we tolerate this sin, we may do so until we simply are unable physically and mentally to invest in people and the Gospel. How sad to be awakened that we lived for the wrong priorities and be unable to re-prioritize life.
One life. Make it count. It goes by fast.
PRAYER: “Father, help me not to squander away my only life on the things that eternally matter.”
QUOTE: “Life is fulfilling and meaningful when we are investing in what matters most – people and the Gospel.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim