Will you die today?

A friend of mine unexpectedly lost his mother last week. She was elderly, but she was not sick. Apparently she just peacefully died in her sleep. What a nice way to go. Another friend of mine is going this weekend to meet with and help his brother-in-law, (who is in the final few weeks of his life), to make his final arrangements. As this person is nearing death he wants to ensure that all last minute details are in place to ease the burden on those left behind prior to his departure from this earth. This person has suffered from a debilitating disease for quite a while.

One person dies completely unexpectedly in her sleep and the other has been slowly dying each day and has known for some time that his death is getting really close. Which would you prefer? I have no fear of dying, but I do not want to suffer endlessly. I have witnessed others dying slow deaths from cancer and other painful diseases and I sure hope that is not my fate. I am however ready to meet my Lord from a spiritual perspective, but I really do not want to go right away.

I used to really perplex my family by stating that I look forward to death. They thought of me as crazy. Come on now and think about it; being with Jesus in person, no more pain and suffering, no tears, no death, no sin, streets of gold, mansions, beautiful music, sparkling water and gorgeous unimaginable sights; who wouldn’t want to exchange this life for that? You know I have changed my viewpoint though. Now I would like to live to a ripe old age. Why? Because I want to do as much for Christ and His kingdom while I have this brief opportunity. And as I have grown older I realize that time is running out and I have many unfulfilled spiritual goals that I want to accomplish. I have come to realize that there just is not enough time left for me to achieve them all and that frustrates me to no end.

We have no guarantees. We might unexpectedly die today just as my friend’s Mom did, or perhaps we will even beat the averages and live to the generous old age of 100 or more. I would recommend that we live each day as it were our last as the Bible has instructed. Hopefully if you start dutifully abiding by this command and achieve as much as possible daily towards achieving your spiritual goals while you are still young, you will not have regrets, (like me), as you grow old. This opportunity to serve the Lord while we are placed so briefly in this world will not be repeated. Make the most of it.

James 4:14
Whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. For what is
your life? It is a vapor that
appears for a little time and then
vanishes away