Daily Devotional for Wednesday February 16, 2011

Death is a Part of the Human Experience

(James 4:14)

"Dear Bill, It is with a broken heart that I'm letting you know that my husband had a massive and fatal heart attack last week. I know he enjoyed your email messages for a long time and that he has communicated with you, and encouraged you in your ministry. He has gone to be with Jesus. Our memories of him are sweet. I thought you would like to know. God Bless"

Sadly, I receive many emails like this every week. The death of someone we love is a difficult part of this brief life we live. That is why we must be grateful for each day God gives us, and never take our life for granted. It is also why we must be prepared for the day we leave this life and help as many as possible be prepared for that day as well. I had just communicated with this woman's husband a few days prior to his death. He is forever with the Lord he loved, though he lives on in all of those lives he touched along his journey.

For each one of us, the one certainty is that one day this life will be over and we will pass into eternity. It is not a question of if, only when. That is why I try often to reinforce to you that we must live each day to its fullest. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God. When it is over, the only thing that we will take with us from this life is our personal relationship with Christ. As real as the fact is that one day we will die, we often take this life for granted. From time to time however, we are confronted with our own mortality and it helps us to refocus on what this life is really about.

Death is a part of the human experience. The Bible says "O death, where is thy sting!" For those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ it is not an event to be feared, but one that simply marks the end of our time in this life. Don't ever forget this important point. Only God says when our work here is over. So have no fear. As long as He still has work for us to do, we aren't going anywhere. I guess He still has some work left for me to do. I pray each day I am faithful to that work.

I share this with you today just to remind you how precious life really is. Not only how precious, but how quickly it can end. DON'T EVER TAKE YOUR LIFE FOR GRANTED. EACH DAY IS A SPECIAL GIFT FROM GOD. Let me also say that for anyone reading this today, that does not have 100% assurance that if your life ends today you will spend eternity with God, the Bible says TODAY is the day of salvation.

Please take a few minutes, the most important few minutes of your life, and go to http://www.liveprayer.com/plan.cfm . Simply ask God to open your heart and watch this brief clip.

I love you and care about you so very much. I don't say that lightly, especially today. Trust me when I tell you that in the face of death, knowing that you will spend eternity with Jesus, gives you a peace you can't even describe. For those who do know Christ, make each day count, you just never know when it will be your last. Make sure you do all you can to serve Him each day.

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller