I turn forty-five later this week and it occurred to me that I’m probably about half-way through my life. I’m in good health, decent shape, and I take care of myself. It would seem that living to the age of ninety would not be too much of a stretch. But what if I’m wrong? What if I only have thirty years remaining? What about twenty, or ten? What if my life should unexpectedly end next week? As Jesus said, none of us have any guarantee of tomorrow (Luke 12:16-20). Any of us could find that our next breath is actually our last. That should affect the way we live. Knowing tomorrow could be our last day on earth should have radical implications on how we live today.
Unfortunately while most would acknowledge this fact intellectually, few actually alter their way of living to demonstrate they believe it. Think about it; if you knew you had one week to live, just seven more days to impact the world for the cause of Christ, would you really spend your time as you currently do? Given seven days before you died, how much time would you spend watching television or playing video games? How much money would you spend on the latest electronic gadgetry? How long would you spend eating, sleeping, or daydreaming?
I believe it’s fair to say that any of us, given only a week to live, would immediately begin maximizing our hours. We would focus on things that mattered. We’d nurture relationships. We’d risk failure and humiliation in order to further the message of Christ. We’d refuse to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to the suffering around us. Our focus would be on others and not ourselves. In short, our life would begin to look a lot more like that of Jesus.
So why wait? Why wait until you know you only have a week to live before you begin living for Jesus? He gave up everything so that we might live. Surely we can give our lives to bring glory to Him. You may not have seven days left to live. Some have only a couple and others have only one.
There is no time to live like we have an eternity of tomorrows. Our time will end, and probably sooner than we care to imagine. But we have this day here and now. We have this moment. Now is the time to set aside our selfishness, our pride, and our fear. Now is the time to devote our every minute to glorifying our Savior and our Creator. Live your life to bring glory to God; not tomorrow, not later, but right now. Seek Him first in everything you do. Refuse to live as you always have. Refuse to accept anything other than obedience and devotion to Him. Each of us must choose this day whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15). Time will run out on each of us. All that matters is what we do between now and then. Don’t wait; you don’t have time. Give yourself completely to Him.