Tim McGraw sings a song called "Live Like You Were Dying". This song really hits home with me. I've heard this song a gazillion times, but last week when I heard it, it brought on a whole new meaning. If you've never heard it, it's a great listen! I've included the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjRXGqRofE4
Since December, I've faced some giant diagnosis' and health issues. To battle this, I've had 3 surgeries thus far and am awaiting the fourth. Though I'm still recovering from the third and biggest surgery, my hopes and spirits are high. Mix this in with the world in it's new state of COVID 19 and it's made for a very interesting chapter for my family and I to say the least. I'm still awaiting some serious results that could drastically impact which direction my future path will lead, but I'm at peace because God is leading this path. Because God is with me, no weapon shall be formed against me!
So, what if? What if today, you were told that you had only 3 weeks to live. (That's not what my doctor told me, I'm just speaking hypothetically). What would go through your mind? How would you spend your next 3 weeks? What about your life would you change? Now, I fully realize the COVID virus has put a halt to how we can act in a direct and in-person sense.... But this time will pass! This will be over so soon and life will begin to resume normal day to day functions. Don't use this time of quarantine as an excuse to crawl under a rock. Appreciate the time you have with your family and loved ones and savor these moments. Today will never happen again.
We all know our time on earth is limited and no matter how much this statement makes one uncomfortable, it's a fact. No matter who you are, how young or old, what measure of success you've attained or where you live, your time is limited on this earth.
Would you take license to say what you really feel and do what you really want? Would you no longer think of only yourself but reach out to those you love and let them know how much they mean? Would you take risks you had never taken before and allow yourself to lay worry aside and gratefully accept each new day?
Some seem to gain a new clarity about their priorities like their personal relationship with God and leaving legacies that will endure. Some are so caught up in fear, that they are afraid to take any step forward and are just freezing still their time. That is NO way to live!
When you think about it, we don't have control over many things in life. We didn't get to decide where we were born, who our parents are or which time period and culture we face. We don't know when our time on earth will be up. It could be next week or next year or decades away. Only God knows and whether you believe in Him or not, the fact is that our lives are in His hands. But there is one thing we have a vast amount of control over. We get to decide how were going to use our time. Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are: help us to spend them as we should". God wants us to realize that our time on earth is indeed limited. Why? So we will spend it wisely. But He gives us the choice about how we spend this most valuable currency.
This is the point where many people turn to faith. But just as some people live like there's no tomorrow, others use their faith to live like there's no today. They're always thinking about heaven "someday" instead of fully engaging in life today. They believe only half-way. Well I'll tell you right now friend, there is no "half-way" to heaven. You either believe and accept Jesus into your heart, or you don't. God is a gentleman and leaves that choice up to us, but be very careful which path you choose. When we leave this earth, there are no second chances. God offers His salvation as a free gift for anyone who will accept it. Have you? Will you?
The only way we can live for eternity is to embrace each day as a gift from God. We must live in the tipping point between the everyday and the eternal. He created us and has given us another day to live- to know and experience His love, to love and serve those around us, to live passionately the life He made for us. The temporal nature of our lives should keep our focus on what matters most.
Don't wait to do tomorrow to do what you need to do today. Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to reach out to someone? Do you need to reconcile a relationship? I guarantee you that if you only had three weeks to live, you would look at everything from a different perspective. Many of the things you do now that seem so important would immediately become meaningless. You would have total clarity about what matters most and you wouldn't hesitate to be spontaneous and risk your heart. You would be radically transformed. But why do we wait until we are diagnosed with cancer, or we lose a loved one to accept his knowledge? Who would you want to spend your last days with? How would you want to spend your last days?
I'm challenging you to start living your life as though you only have three weeks to live. Add some "make it count" moments to your life. Forget the past! Focus on what is important today. You don't have to wait until there's a crisis to consider how you can experience life to the fullest. If you're willing to accept this challenge, be prepared for your life to improve! There's no time like the present, right now, to get started.