When Farrah Fawcett died the other day, it was not a surprise as she had been very ill very publicly for quite some time. Michael Jackson dying the same day was shocking.
I confess that I teared up a bit driving home. Not for grief over either one of them (although I do feel sorry for their families and friends who are directly impacted by their deaths), but over the sense that life is passing by very quickly. I feel like I am in a holding pattern waiting to land and get busy and I really hate being on the bench and out of the game. That feeling of uselessness exacerbates the sense that time is passing by way too quickly.
Anyway, these two deaths make Allen James ask “What would you want spoken of you as family and friends reflect upon your life?”
Knowing that life is short. Knowing that right now (right this very instant) is the only time that we have been given to make an impact for the Kingdom of Heaven, what are you doing? What treasure are you laying up for yourself in Heaven where the moths, rust, and thieves can’t get to it? How are you using the using the unrighteous wealth you have been given to assure yourself of being entrusted with true riches?
When Paul reflected on the brevity of life, the reality of God’s impending judgment was thrust to the forefront of his brain. Immediately after that thought Paul argued that we have to work to persuade those around us to follow Jesus.
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others…..
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So, howya doing with your embassy to the “Right Now” moment you occupy? mine stinks. Let’s do better by God’s grace and in His power.