What if we knew when we were going to die? What would we do? Would it change the way we live our everyday lives? Would we tell people things we want to tell them? Would we do things that we’ve always wanted to do? As Christians, we should always be living as though we are going to meet our Lord any day, at any time. We must keep in perspective how limited our time on earth truly is.
Because we have limited time on earth, we have to prioritize what really matters. When you are on your death bed, what do you want people to remember about your life? What do you hope people know?
Before we jump into that, I want to encourage you with something. Think of how long the earth has been revolving around the world. Think about how long it’s been since the creation of Adam and Eve. You could’ve been born at any time in the past, or anytime in the future, and you could’ve been born anywhere at all in the world. But think about it, God, in His complete sovereignty, made you just the way you are, at this time in history, exactly at where you are right now. It’s crazy if you think about it! God has you here, right now, for a purpose, and it’s for His purpose. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” I love that! “You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” Think of how intimately and beautifully God created you. Think about the price Jesus paid to have you, to call you His, and so that we could be with Him for all of eternity! This should be the ammunition for your life here on earth. There are people all around you, everyday, exactly where you are, who need Jesus. God has placed you where you are for a reason.
God has also gifted you exactly how He wanted so that you could impact people for Him through your gifts. By identifying your gifts and using them for Him and to further His Kingdom is living intentionally.
Because our flesh nabs at us all of the time, we have to intentionally put Christ at the forefront of our minds. In every decision, in every thought, in every motive, we have to see if it is pleasing to Christ. This doesn’t mean that we can’t have any fun or lighten up, we can! There are plenty of ways to do this that are pleasing to the Lord. But we have to also live like every second counts, because we never know when Christ is coming back, or when our time here on earth is done. Think of how Jesus lived when He was here on earth. He used everything He encountered as a lesson to teach us. He spoke when the time permitted, and He remained silent when He needed. But everything He did was intentional, everything was on purpose. When He was dying on the cross, everything that He wanted to do before He was done on this earth in human form was done, He didn’t leave with any regrets. When I stand before God, I want to honestly say that I have used all my gifts and talents and time to bring people to Him and give Him glory. Our time is short, and our mission field is big! We must pray for God to use us, and then actually let Him use us. We have to live and act like Jesus, because it matters. Our life matters. It matters to those around us, and it matters to God. Let us live like Jesus is coming back soon, because we never know when God is going to bring us-or the ones around us-Home.
Scripture:
Psalm 139:13-16-
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”
Isaiah 61:1-
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me when I want to live for myself and waste my life here on earth. Let me always remember that my life is short and there are many people that need You. Forgive me when I am scared to do Your work, I pray that You would remind me of the courage Jesus had when He was on earth, and empower me with Your Spirit to live intentionally, because it matters. In Jesus’ Name I pray and love You, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading! Please enjoy a song below that invites God to build His Kingdom here on earth and use us in the process! Feel free to contact me via the comments, Facebook, or via the "Contact" page on this website. Glory to God!
Until next time,
Stephanie