I own a book (well several books), but one in particular lays on my shelf, and it’s a rather thick one.  When you see this book, maybe you might find yourself picking it up to thumb through, pausing to read the short obituaries and gravesite descriptions.  You see, this is a volume of hundreds of famous dead people. Rock stars, Villains, Inventors, Presidents, Authors, and a host of others have been recorded in this book.  We would need to find a biography to learn about the lives of these individuals, but this book records only one listing with two details:  When they died and Where they are buried.

Oftentimes we hear others say:  “It only takes a walk through a cemetery and the reading of tombstones to remind a person of the brevity of his existence.”  Those who know me have heard me speak of a desire to not have a traditional tombstone but a bench with the information denoting my existence chiseled on the top of the seat.  The psalmist David wrote with clarity—

Time is Fleeting.  Do What You Must Do—Now!

Life is but a breath; the Bible tells us so.  Maybe we find this a morbid realization, but maybe we also find this truth exhilarating.   Without a doubt, we have been a given “a dash” of days to be alive, and we have read countless writings about this “dash.”  For the believer in Jesus, the Christ-follower, there exists a second dash because the child of God has encountered the Savior Jesus and been twice-born.  In all reality, Christians need a double-dash on their tombstones.  My bench (my tombstone, that I would prefer) should have these dates chiseled on its seat:

August 20, 1966—to be determined by God Himself!

Fall Revival, 1981—to eternity, without end, forevermore!

God calls to every person alive to be “born again,” and after that decision has been made, then Jesus calls each believer to follow His example:  to preach the kingdom of God.  Today, I found myself wondering:  How am I doing with this call Jesus gave me?  Possibly, you too are a Christian, and maybe you also need to ask:  Lord, how am I doing with this call You have given to me?

When Saul, the persecutor of Christians, met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded by the great light and had to be led the rest of the way into Damascus.  The Spirit had placed a calling in the mind of Ananias to take Saul into his home, to feed him, and care for him. Both Saul and Ananias had been given specific instructions by the Lord.  Even though he feared for his life, Ananias obeyed the Lord, & even though he feared, Saul obeyed the Lord.  The Bible records this so.  God’s miracle happened:  Saul became a child of God.

My life my 1966 to my earthly death will be brief.

However, life eternal experienced from 1981 to eternity with God in heaven will last forever.

Every prophecy spoken by the prophets has come true, but one—the second coming of Jesus.  The Bible tells us this will be the next action Jesus takes, when He returns to gather His church.

At Christmas, we are reminded of the prophecy of those who God sent to proclaim the Advent:  the coming of Jesus.  He came as a babe.  He lived on earth as the Son of Man.  He walked in obedient ministry to the Father.  He was crucified on the cross.  He was resurrected, and He ascended back to heaven.  These events occurred, just as the prophets proclaimed.

How can you work now to advance God’s Kingdom?

Time is Fleeting:  Do What You Must Do—Now!