“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NLT)
*Please Note: Recently I’ve gotten responses to my articles to which I’ve been unable to respond. I get a response back that says “Address Not Found.” I want to be faithful to respond to EVERY inquiry, so, please be sure to give me an accurate email address. Thanks, Ed 😊
A lot of things we fret about wouldn’t be an issue if we saw them in light of eternity. I think of getting caught at a red light or being cut off in traffic. Why do we honor those incidents by giving them another thought? I used to get frustrated by the amount of hair my little Lola shed, until one day I took her to the Vet and wasn’t able to ever bring her home again. Suddenly her shedding didn’t matter.
My brother in Christ, Ray Majoran, wrote these beautiful and challenging words: “Let us hold loosely to the worries of tomorrow, trusting that Your faithfulness will meet us there (Matthew 6:34). Instead, fill us with the boldness to forgive freely, love deeply, and serve selflessly. May we plant seeds that bear eternal fruit, trusting that the unseen ripples of our obedience will echo into eternity (John 9:4). God of all time, help us prioritize the eternal over the fleeting. Shape our hearts to live as if this year is our last — intentional, purposeful, and undistracted. And as the sun sets on our days, may we be found faithful in Your light.” (See Glimpse of Infinity If Tomorrow Never Comes – 01-05-25)
When you rise from your bed each day, does the thought of the reality that this could be your last day on earth cross your mind? Yeh, kind of morbid, but that’s why I learned early in my walk with the Lord to keep short accounts with God. What does that mean? It means if you mess up, fess up! If you do, say, or think something that’s inappropriate and dishonoring to the Lord, confess it and turn from it immediately.
Life is too short to allow our mind and heart to ponder non-essential, unprofitable things. My baby girl recently celebrated her 52nd birthday. I was thinking: “How can this be? We just brought her home from the hospital!” We so take this life for granted, believing we have tomorrow and next month and next year! That’s a lie from the enemy. We have this breath, but we’re not guaranteed the next.
When we live with eternity in view it magnifies our responsibility to invest every second of this life in His Kingdom. But how? By living expectantly, loving unreservedly, giving lavishly, praying earnestly, waiting patiently, and hoping longingly, especially for our lost loved ones to come to Jesus. We must not let opportunities to speak of Jesus pass us.
There are no “accidents.” If the Lord gives you voice with another human being, on the phone, electronically, or in person, treat them as though you were communicating with Jesus. “Yeh, but it’s someone from the company that tried to rip me off!” Or “It’s the person who cheated me in a business deal!” Or “They’re a Republican!” Or “They’re a Democrat!” We are often so petty and think such shallow thoughts. They’re human beings made in the image of their heavenly Father, JUST LIKE ME AND YOU! We must get over ourselves!
What if the Lord changed his mind about us every time we did or said something stupid? He always views us through the lens of eternity – what He designed us to be for Him; what we can mean to His eternal Kingdom when we get our heart and mind set on Him. We have to purposely and intentionally harness our thoughts and hold them captive to the glory of our Savior.
Eternity begins today for anyone privileged to open their eyes to the light of a new day. We who profess to know the Lord of heaven MUST be about our Father’s business of loving and serving those in our spheres of influence to the best of our ability under the Spirit’s directive. Their eternity and ours may depend on it.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 