If you knew
Good day and thank you for reading this column on a very fascinating and serious column about death. Before I get into the subject, I want to thank: https://godslittleacre.net/funnies/
Moses
George W. Bush, in an airport lobby, noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long white beard and flowing white hair. The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm.
George W. approached the man and inquired, “Aren’t you Moses?” The man ignored George W. and stared at the ceiling.
George W. positioned himself more directly in the man’s view and asked again, “Aren’t you Moses?” The man continued to peruse the ceiling.
George W. tugged at the man’s sleeve and asked once again, “Aren’t you Moses?” The man finally responded in an irritated voice, “Yes I am.”
George W. asked him why he was so uppity, and the man replied, “The last time I spoke to a Bush I had to spend forty years in the desert.”
Mischievous Brothers
Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are excessively mischievous. They are always getting into trouble and their parents know all about it. If any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved.
The boys’ mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but he asked to see them individually. So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.
The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Do you know where God is, son?” The boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God?!” Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “Where is God?!” The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, “what happened?” The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time dude. GOD is missing, and they think we did it!
The Greatest Typo
A new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices, however, that they are copying from copies, and not from the original books.
So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there was an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies. The head monk says, “We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.”
So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He asks what’s wrong.
“The word is ‘celebrate’,” says the old monk.
If you enjoyed those, laugh, love and tell them to someone else to brighten their day.
Hear is my question to you fellow Christian, if you knew what day, what hour, what month and what year, would you live your life differently?
In fact, how would you live your life? Would you marry? Would you travel? What would you change in your life? Would you have no fear of death?
Depending on the number of years of living your life, what changes would you make to make your life better, the people around you better and the world around you better?
What would you be known for? What would your eulogy say and what positive things would you leave this world?
If I only knew, I would do this or that, say this or that, apologize for this or that, and try to make this world a better place.
One could think of all so many reasons, excuses, thoughts and what ifs if he or she knew when they were going to die, but only our savior knows when we will die.
Let’s see what God says about death—Look at Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV) Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
As you read the above verses, Jesus makes it very clear that the Father knows when a sparrow will fall to the ground and die and compares this to knowing how many hairs on your head.
God places an unfathomable value on man for God sent his only son to die and save us from eternal death. Because of this value, why fear about what may happen personally for eternal salvation is real and unshakeable.
Are our days numbered here on earth? Look no further than Job 14:5 (NIV) A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.
If we only knew how long we would live, but we don’t, so why fret? Why worry about tomorrow? Are you not just wasting your time? It’s one thing to make plans for tomorrow, but worry about what tomorrow will bring is wasteful. Are you consumed with fear and have you lost trust in Jesus? Have you let those worries of tomorrow affect your relationship with God today?
In fact, Jesus taught about worry in Matthew 6:25-34 and finishes with what you and I should do— But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
If I only knew, would I first seek the kingdom and his righteousness or would I live my life without putting God first?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the father as to when Jesus will return.
If you only know, would you keep on your current path of sinning and then make a U-turn to God at the very end? Would you be tempted to be lazy in your work of spreading the gospel for Christ?
Before I close, turn o James 4:13-17 (NIV) 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.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
If I only knew, would I be making plans ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? Would God be in my plans? Do I center my life around God and his will or my will and what life brings me?
Verse 14 gets to the point for 80 plus years is short on this earth and your length of years goes by like a mist on the ground that appears for a little while and then vanishes. So don’t be deceived for death is eminent, live for God today and have place in eternity.
In closing, If I only knew how long I would live is no different than if the owner of the house had known what time of night the thief was coming for, he would kept watch and would not have left his house be broken into.
Only God knows how long our life is on this earth—So be vigilant and prepared and ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10 (NIV)
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
We know that life is short for we know not when we will die, so use the time wisely and for eternal good. Ask yourself, “What do I want to see happen in my life before I die?”
