“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal…” Matthew 6:19-20
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
MAKING EVERY DAY COUNT.
I read a story about a man named Fred. He had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, which caused him to make a life-changing decision. He decided he was going to start living as if there were no more tomorrows, and that’s when something amazing began to happen. Fred said, “I simply stopped doing everything that wasn’t essential and that didn’t really matter. What was important became even more important and the unimportant became even more unimportant.”
Then the story became truly amazing. A few months passed, and Fred found out he had been misdiagnosed. He did have a rare disease, but it was curable! When the doctor told him the good news, Fred said he cried like a baby…but not for the reasons you are probably thinking. Fred said he cried because, “I was afraid my life would go back to the way it used to be.” Fred had made an amazing discovery. When you begin to live each day like you are dying, you can’t live the same way you used to. Your focus gets laser-sharp on what is truly important.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever heard of a Bucket List? It is a list of things you want to do before you die…or “kick the bucket.” Most of us probably have such a list. You may not have them written down, but we all have things we would like to do or experience before our life on earth ends. Perhaps it’s to travel somewhere, meet someone, or have some particular experience.
There are all kinds of choices. In fact, you can go online to bucketlist.org and see a list of millions different things you can choose from to do before you die.
It is important to understand, however, that there is a difference between the things you WANT to do before you die and the things you SHOULD do before you die. The first involves making the most of this temporary life, and the second means being ready for the next life…the life that is eternal. From the lips of Jesus, in Matthew 6:19-20, He warns us to make sure we are using this life to prepare for the next one. In our verses for this first day of the new year, (just three days from now) Jesus reminds His followers to store up treasures in heaven…meaning eternal ones…that cannot be destroyed or stolen.
In a world that is all about the “here and now,” this message is more needed than ever. Jesus isn’t saying we shouldn’t enjoy this life, but rather that true joy and fulfillment will always reap an eternal harvest. So that Bucket List…it’s not the goal. Christ is the goal. Christ is the prize. As His followers, we should live every day like there will be no tomorrow…like Fred learned to live. If we have this mind set, we will spend our lives preparing to meet Jesus, which will result in a life spent on what matters most.
PRAYER
Join me and pray a prayer like this…”Lord, help me to live today, and each day this coming New Year, as if it were my last. May my life bring honor and glory to Your Name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Think it over…
Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.
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True, Starting each day with the expectation that only God’s good will unfold helps one to see “infinite ways” in which God blesses. This spiritual outlook helps in coping with daily challenges. God measures time by the good that is unfolded, which frees individuals from a sense of hurry and pressure.
Making every day count means consistently living with a conscious sense of unity with one’s Maker, actively demonstrating God’s love and truth in all actions, and using every moment to grow spiritually and bless humanity
Your friend -His servant,
Isaac Otieno