Mortality has a way of kicking us in the stomach and waking us up to how fragile and short life really is. Though we who are saved will live forever, our time on earth will someday come to an end. There will be a day on which we will take our last breath.
The way to know if God still has a purpose for your life is if you’re still breathing. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!” (Psalm 104:33 NLT).
Too often, we put the thought of dying out of our minds, so we don’t have to face what is coming. But I would propose to you that most who will die tomorrow are not even thinking today might be their last day on earth. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and every day may be our last day.
Lord, help me not to fear how I might die more than how I might live. “…Jesus became a man like us. He died as we must die. Through His death He destroyed the power of the devil who has the power of death. Jesus did this to make us free from the fear of death. We no longer need to be chained to this fear” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NLV).
To confront one’s own mortality should not be done with a dread of what lies ahead. Rather it should be done that we would appreciate everything we have today. Our days are numbered, and our days are relatively few, so let us make the best of how we might use them.
The Lord decides how many days you shall have, and you decide what to do with them. “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NKJV).
People who live as if they will never die often never live a life worth living. They often waste their time away on selfish pleasure and meaningless activities. But those who recognize the blessed limit of their time here on earth will seek to use the precious time they are given wisely.
Spend your time wisely, knowing you only get so much time to spend. “Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. Use your time well, for these are evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16 CJB).
When we are wise with how we use time, we will find that the time we have is more rewarding. The rewards are not what we might gain here on earth but what will be waiting for us when we get to heaven. What we do on earth will impact what we have in heaven.
Kingdom success is measured by who you are, not what you have. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16:26-27 NIV).
When you are on your last breath, there will be clarity of those things that really matter. Much of the frustrations you have throughout your days will be meaningless when you are knocking on the door of heaven. We would live higher each day if we imagined each day might be our last.
Live like it is your last day, and watch how kind you are to people. “…be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV).
Your last breath is the bookend opposite your first breath. It will be what you did between these two breaths that the Lord will be looking at as you enter heaven. The riches you gathered will mean nothing but the richness of your grace towards others will be rewarded greatly.
Our success for the kingdom is not measured by how much we have gathered but by how much we have poured out. “God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.” (Hebrews 6:10 CEV).
When you speak to someone, you never know if it might be their last day. Life is fragile, and life is short, and we should treat people as if there will be no tomorrow. Be gracious in your words and be loving in your thoughts, and know the Lord is watching.
Speak to others such that you wouldn’t regret it if it was the last thing you ever told them. “And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them” (Ephesians 4:29 TPT).
The things of this world will not matter when you’re no longer in this world. Gather as you might, it will all be for nothing when you step into heaven. Gather what you can take into heaven,] which is the kindness and goodness of those things done to others that you can hold within your heart.
The only things you can take to heaven are those that you can pack inside your heart. “Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure” (Matthew 6:19-21 TPT).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius