“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.”1
“It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing. I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste means affluence. Throwing away things meant you knew there’d always be more. But then my husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the quiet of our bedroom, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more ‘just one minute.’”2
Have you ever noticed how much we appreciate some things or someone—especially when they are gone or when we lose them?
I had a good friend who was very ill and I planned on sending him a special book that I thought would help him. Too late. I had a call from his wife to tell me my friend took his life. I still feel very sad about that. If only I would have sent it when I first thought of it . . . but I didn’t. That happened to me twice. “If-onlys,” only leave one with regrets.
I hope I learned my lesson. Last year another friend was very ill so I sent him some of our gospel literature. Not long before he passed away we received word that he had accepted Jesus as his Savior. For that I will be eternally grateful.
Is there someone on your mind today that you need to contact? Someone you need to tell that you love them? Someone you need to reach out with a helping hand? Let’s not delay but do it today. None of us have any guarantee of tomorrow.
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please forgive me where I have failed to do what I needed to do. Help me to always put first things first and not allow even the good to be the enemy of the best. Help me to plan my days and do those things that need to be done each day so I will have no more regrets. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Note: If you have never accepted God’s forgiveness for all your sins and received his gift of eternal life, I urge you to do that TODAY. For help be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” online at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.
1. James 4:13- 14 (NIV).
2. Submitted by Rev. Lonny L. Remmers, Fire Escape Ministries.
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