Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

"It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."¹

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."²

"Life Has an Expiration Date" was a statement that I read on somebody else's email but I don't know whom to credit it to. However, it is an excellent reminder that life is short and we only have one life to live and invest.

I would like to again quote one of my many favorite one-liners from William Penn, the 18/19th-century French/American religious leader who said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Penn's words bring to mind one of my good friends who died at age 44 from cancer. I was with Graham shortly before he passed away and asked him how he felt being only 44 and given only a matter of a few months at best to live. One of the unforgettable things he spoke about was how difficult it was for him when some friends who visited him in the hospital rattled on with empty words, or said "the right thing" but without feeling or heart. He was dying and to him their words were empty, meaningless clichés. He wanted to talk about life, death, and being ready to meet God face to faceâ€"and issues that mattered.

He also said how angry he was because there were so many things he didn't get done and still wanted to doâ€"but his time was up and he would never get them done. This was one of his big regrets. But his main regret was that he felt he hadn't spent enough time with his kids and family.

Graham's words remind me how temporal life is. None of us has any guarantee of tomorrow, so (not being fanatical about it) we do need to live every day with eternal values in mind.

So, do you have any unfinished business? Any impaired relationships that you can and need to resolve? Anyone you need to let know how much you love them? May I kindly suggest that you do it today! And, above all, do you need to get right with God? This I urge upon you to do todayâ€"now.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to remember the words of the poet who said, 'Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last,' and, with Your help, live life to the fullestâ€"with eternal values uppermost in my mind. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

NOTE: To be sure your life is right with God read, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
2. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV).

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