Don’t Wait for Tomorrow
Now listen, you who say, “Today or
tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business
and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is
your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this
or that.”
– James 4:13-15
He’s not the sort of man you expect to see rushed to
ICU. He’s young, healthy, active. He’s a man of deep faith. A man with a wife
and kids and a job. Someone who volunteers and repeatedly gives of himself to
others.
An infection. That’s the diagnosis. The brain bleed
stopped on its own. He should have a full recovery. It was a very scary night
for his family. Things like this aren’t supposed to happen. But they do. Every
single day, they do.
We make plans. We love to make plans. It might be
something as simple as planning to go to work or to the store. Maybe you’re
planning to watch television or mow the lawn. We’ve always got something
planned. Until the unthinkable happens.
His wife noted that 24 hours before she never would
have expected to be sitting in ICU, not knowing if her very sick husband would
be okay. That’s the thing about life. Sometimes it hits you with a wave that
will almost sink you, until you remember that Jesus controls the storm.
I mentioned this man’s deep faith. It’s a strength and
a comfort. Because if his life had ended – and we praise God that it didn’t –
we know goodbye would only have been temporary. It would hurt, especially for
his family, but there would be some comfort in knowing where he was.
Sometimes people put off their faith decision. They
think they’ve got time. We all think we’ve got time. We’ve got plenty of time
to take that trip, make that call, play with the children. Until we don’t.
A sweet friend once said her cancer diagnosis was one
of the greatest gifts God ever gave to her. The reason? It made her let go of
all the superficial things she thought was important and focus on what truly
was important. Her relationship with God grew strong and deep. It wasn’t about
doing what was expected – church attendance and tithing – but about her heart
and reaching the lost.
Are you lost? If today were your last day on earth, do
you know where you’d go? Because one day when you aren’t really expecting it,
you’ll take your last breath. It doesn’t matter if you’re 17 or 80. No one
really expects to die until we do.
Don’t wait to know Jesus. He’s pretty awesome and He’s
right there waiting to save your soul. All you have to do is ask.
