"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." -James 4:14
When my wife Lisa and I received her original cancer diagnosis we did what came natural. Understanding we would get both qualified and unqualified opinions, we got on the web and researched all the information we could find on her particular diagnosed cancer type (we found out later this is not necessarily the best thing to do). It is a sobering experience reading treatment options and corresponding mortality rates. Even though we attempted to practice, to the best of our ability, the wise suggestion to take "every negative thought captive" (that would included mortality rate statistics), there were moments when the reality of life's mist nature hit home.
"I may not be here for Shelbee's graduation."
Tears filled my eyes as I listened to my wife speak these words and then watched her silently and somberly consider the words she had just spoken. We were on our way to another doctor appointment and the seriousness of our situation was particularly heavy. After a moment, we acknowledge the possibility, captured it (gave it to the Lord in prayer) and went on to another topic.
To be clear, my wife was not expressing a lack of faith or focusing on morbid outcomes, she was articulating a reality we have faced many times in our marriage and ministry together.
Life is a gift of unpredictable length. Therefore, the most should be made of every day!
Truth: One's unavoidable future reality (death) has incredible power to impact one's present reality.
Whether young or old, ask yourself this question, "If today where your last day, what would you do?"
Would you...
- ...spend all day with family and friends?
- ...share those words?
- ...have that conversation?
- ...ask for or offer forgiveness?
- ...get your life right with the God?
Do you have one? Good.
Now, let your future reality impact your present reality!
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