October 1, 2020
Church Family,
Jettison to the end of your life for a moment. This is not a morbid exercise. Indeed, it is wise to do so. “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
On your death bed, if asked what three things you desired most as you leave this fallen world, what would be your requests? Think “genie in a bottle” for a moment. You know, the one where the grateful apparition with the funky pants and Persian accent grants three wishes. What would be yours?
Assuming my first request for 100 more wishes would be denied (How come nobody asks for that?), here would be my three. That I would see my wife and children in heaven. That I would see my grandchildren in heaven. And that Evangelical Reformed Church would remain faithful.
So, if those would be my requests at death, do they match my priorities in life? Said another way, when life is over will I look back and grieve the wasted time and misspent energy on things that got in the way of my top three desires?
Here is more encouragement for such an exercise: “Man does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4). “We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground” (2 Samuel 14:14). “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” (Psalm 39:4).
And to add more spiritual and eternal emphasis, the writer of Hebrews reminds, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (9:27).
What is it you truly want from this life? Especially when it is over? Now is the time to make decisions. Now is the time to make adjustments. Now is the time to act.
The less regret on our deathbed the better.
Pastor Rich Hamlin