Life? Obvious, I know. But so precious- here one day, one moment- gone the next. Our lives and those of our loved ones are so valuable and we often take them for granted. We all know without a doubt that we will die one day. But that day (at least for many of us) feels so very far away. Nothing we have to worry about today or this week or this year. I've got things to do, plans to make, we think. Oh, but plans are not really ours to be made and we cannot know the day nor the hour our father will end our life here and call us home.
This weekend I will travel to attend a funeral. For a 54-year-old man. Younger than my parents. I won't go into too many details out of respect for the immediate family but I will say the culprit was cancer. Like a thief in the night it stole his life, his memories- though he will live on in others- leaving behind a wife, 5 children and 2 grandchildren. He left this world without his money, status or material possessions, even his body. I say this not to be grim, but to remind myself that life is precious and I don't know how much time I have. Even though he battled cancer for awhile, not one but our Creator and Saviour knew the moment he would breathe his last in this life. I invite you to join me in taking stock of our blessings and put our faith in that which matters- Jesus Christ. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." -- Matthew 6:19-20 (emphasis added by me).
Do not store up treasures here on earth because we can't take them with us when our time on earth ends. In the blink of an eye, we're gone and it doesn't matter what we own, who we know or what trophies we won. What matters is serving God, serving others and leading them to Him by glorifying Him in all we do. Stuff is just stuff- it all gets left here. What does matter is the impact we have on others' lives, starting with our children and those we interact with on a daily basis. It really doesn't matter what we do if we don't raise our kids in the Word, to be the next generation of believers in this increasingly non-believing nation and world. I must be a light to those around me, a reflection of the spirit dwelling inside me. That's what I'm here for. Not to collect things. To be a light.
My heart is heavy for his wife and kids but joyful at the same time that he's no longer suffering and that he is a believer so I will see him again. I'm also grateful those dearest to him were able to say goodbye. May we all take time to reflect on this marvelous gift of life that is all too short so as to remind us to savor every moment and seek our Almighty God.
Yes, today I'm thankful for life. My life, breathed into me by our Creator and the life Jesus Christ sacrificed so that I may live again beyond the life I know, one far better than I can ever imagine.
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