How Short This Life Really Is

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18, 2002
(Psalms 39:5)

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.

How short this life really is. Several months ago, the sister of a good friend of mine passed away in a car accident. She was only 28 years old. I don't know where she was at spiritually, whether she knew the Lord as her personal savior or not. I do know this. God will get His word to us at different points in our life, especially for those fortunate enough to live in the United States. Each person has a responsibility on what they do with that information. One option is to dismiss it as a fairy tale and live life apart from God. The other option is to accept Christ as Savior and live for Him. It is the most important decision anyone makes in this life, since it determines where you will spend eternity.

One of the problems we face, especially in our younger years is that there seems to be so much life ahead of us. In this limited experience we have on earth, for most, that is true. With the amazing advances in medicine, we are now living longer, and being 60 or 70 seems like a very long time when you are in your teens and 20's. But as you hit your 30's and 40's, you start to realize the months and years seem to go by much quicker. I still can't believe that the year 2002 has only 13 days left. Where has it gone?

As you get older, you start to realize that life is indeed something very fleeting and doesn't last that long. Grandparents die, parents die, other family members and friends die. You become acutely aware how real death is to the human experience. The many passages of Scripture that tell us how brief this life is become very real to us.

The fact is, none of us know when this life will end. We hope to have long, productive, enjoyable lives and live into our 70's, 80's, even 90's. Many are fortunate enough to do that. But many aren't. Whether it is through health problems, accidents, crimes, or other events, many people never get to experience a long life here on earth. That is why we should never take tomorrow for granted, and treat each day of life like the special gift from God that it is.

That is also why we should never put off our decision on what we do with God's Son Jesus Christ. The Bible says that "today.. today... today.. is the day of salvation". I pray above everything else, that if you have NOT made your decision, you will at least take 5 minutes to get alone, pray.. and ask God to show you the truth. You can go to www.liveprayer.com/SPlan.html and read the "Plan of Salvation". Ask God to open your heart to what the truth is. He loves you, and sent His Son to make it possible for you to have everlasting life. But He also gave you freewill to choose. He will not force Himself on you. It is a personal decision each must make in this life.

This subject today, also brings to focus what we really should be paying attention to each day. First is our walk with Christ. It is the only thing that we will take from this life into eternity. Pray, read the Word. That is how we stay in daily fellowship with our Lord. We need to be part of a local fellowship to be fed, to have fellowship with other believers, as an avenue for service. Serving God is not on option. It is something He has called all of His children to do.

We spend so much time of our life, such a high percentage of our life on things that will be gone and meaningless when this life is over, compared to the time we spend on fulfilling our real purpose. That is to serve and glorify Him. That is why so much of what we do is wood, hay, and stubble, and will be burned up. We need to be focused on laying up those treasures that will stand the test of fire. Doing those things that can have an everlasting impact in the lives of people.

I love you, and care about you. I know that this is a difficult subject for many of you since I deal with it frequently. The reason I have, and will continue to deal with this issue is because it is so critical that we never forget how brief this live is. We get so caught up in the things of this world, the next thing you know it is over, and we have missed so much of what this life is supposed to be about. That is why so many deal with such pain, heartache, and depression, much of the time. You will never find the true joy, the true peace, the abundance this life can be until you are tuned into a real daily walk with Christ, and fulfilling your God-given purpose. Everything else will leave you empty and dry.

Know I will be praying for you today to never take this day for granted, or put off until tomorrow the most important decision we can make in this life which is choosing to put our faith in Christ, or once that decision is made, be all God has called you to be. While this life is short, eternity is forever. When you know Christ as your Savior, that eternity will be spent in fellowship with our Creator.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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