The last section of James 4 has always been challenging to me. I am still young (and foolish) enough to picture my life as going on indefinitely. God, through James, says this attitude is arrogant and that I (we) should remember that our lives are like a mist, which can quickly be gone.
I was reminded yesterday, on Easter of all days, just how real the "mistiness" of life is. I found out that a person who has attended the Sunday School class that I co-teach for the first time two weeks ago, died unexpectedly the next Wednesday. Did he know Christ? I'm not sure. Did he hear the gospel in our class? I want to hope so, but when I teach I can get focused on the text and topic at hand. Did God use that time to plant the seed of His Word or water the seed someone else planted? I don't know. Did this gentleman get assurance, encouragement or conviction? Its not clear. Did I squander an hour of that man's life of which he had so precious few remaining? I pray not.
So, how do I keep from wasting this wake up call from God? By God's strength, I will never assume someone knows the gospel just because they're in a church. By God's wisdom, I will never disconnect a lesson (or a blog post) from the foundational reality that Jesus died so that we might live and that we must embrace this reality by faith. By God's mercy, I will endeavor to be quick to listen and slow to speak in order that I may not waste anyone's final hours. And by God's grace, I will be an ambassador of Jesus Christ to anyone God brings in my life.
Will you join me?
Are you comfortable sharing who was in Sunday School that has passed away? I can think of one gentleman whom I have not seen for a long time, but am unaware of any deaths.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the posting. While my life is like a mist on Earth, but I will live forever in perfection in Heaven.