We have been celebrating allot of birthdays recently. Ruth just had a big one. Dan had one a few days ago. We celebrated my mother-in- laws 75th today. Although hers is the same day as mine which is actually March 4th. I like to call it March forth for Jesus. We have many other birthdays in the family around this time of year, all important, because each of us are creations of God put here for a purpose and I think that is worth celebrating. My dad will have his 85th this year. WOW! He seems to get younger every day. Now a new grandchild on the way.
With all this celebration of life going on, I have never in my life had such a strong sense of my own mortality. I am not going to live forever on this earth. I know that sounds funny coming from a dedicated Christian. It has really hit home to me that any day my life could be snuffed out by disease or by accident. I ask myself, " am I ready to go home and meet Jesus?". I have so much I want to do and haven't accomplished yet. What would I do if I learned I only had a few weeks to live or if I died in a car accident on the way home from work on the QEW one day. It happens almost every day. I have a co-worker in the hospital right now dieing of some weird disease I've never heard of before. A great guy age 41, with two beautiful children, one of which he has never seen because she was born while he was in a coma, and a beautiful dedicated wife. Why him and not me? We never think it could be us. Somehow, I escaped thinking of the reality of these things. Perhaps I thought I was invincible. I now have come to the realization that I am not. I don't even know why I am thinking of these things at this point in time. I want to be ready for when it happens and I want to feel good about it if it does. It's good to celebrate life, but I also think it's good to think about our death and our resurrection to new life.
That is supposed to be a Christians ultimate celebration.
I know God is always good and he created life which is also good, but sometimes life stinks. It can be bitter sweet.
We need to hang on to hope and remain thankful for what we have.
Philippians 1:21: " For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
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5 comments:
When I hit 50 years of age I thought time is beginning to slip away. Once in a while I find myself thinking "how much time do I have remaining?" "What will I leave behind?" My legacy?"
I don't like thinking these thoughts. As each year passes and all I look at are opportunities lost. Yet, I'll keep making my little contributions and hope that in the end my life may have been of some value to others.
In the first year I came back to Christ (1979) a word picture was spoken about my future. The picture was that I was in a van. I was driving all over the place. It didn't seem like I was accomplishing much. When I got home I turned around and found that the van was now full of gifts. I guess when I get to heaven I will finally know what legacy I left behind.
Thanks for sharing that Joe. It is uncomfortable thinking about these things. I think it is just reinforcing in me that we must live by faith and not by sight.
Your friendship is a gift to me and to the body of Christ.
dougie g - strange that you should bring this subject up now. I'm halfway through a book by Joe Stowell, titled " Eternity - Reclaiming A Passion For What Endures ". He claims that we live in three worlds- the world within-the world around us- the world beyond us. I have been trying to equate this with what Pastor Roy has been saying that we live in two worlds - the world of five senses and the spiritual world. But, that's a topic for further consideration. Anyway, Joe says that the church today and for a number of years back, has been too occupied with the here and now and thought too little about the world to come,as the disciples did. Everything we do in this world has an influence on our life in the next world. We are only sojourners in this world- eternity is our real home. That is what God created us for and that is why Jesus had to die for us so that we would be prepared to live an eternal life. He really advocates giving more thought and preparation for the world to come. This is your next read after I've finished.
Im young,but My own mortality is something I often think about. Sometimes more then I'd like.
People often say things like "when your young you shouldn't think about that!" But my 21 year old childhood friend was diagnosed with Cancer, and another friend died a wile ago. It's a reality even the young have to deal with.
I am married with a child on the way and never has the thought of my own mortality been stronger in my mind.
I will raise children, they will have children, and eventually I will pass away, and eventually become forgotten in the threads of time.
But like you Doug I just think of the eternal life I look forward to, and also try to just live every moment as best I can.
Dan...I think Jesus said something along that line. We need only be concerned with one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself. I think if we walk in the attitude that we may not see tomorrow, we will make the most of each moment and live life to the fullest.
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