January 1, 2012

By: Elder Timothy Guess

David Brainerd, a preacher to American Indians in the 1700s, was 29 when he died. Long-time member of this church, George Emmett Rushing, was almost 100. Every time we close out an old year and start a new one, we are confronted with and reminded of the concept of time. God is eternal, He always has been and He always will be. You and I, however, definitely had a beginning. All human beings will live for eternity, whether with God or apart from Him, but our time here on this earth is limited. Some people live a long life. Others, like Brainerd, are taken before what we call the “normal” time.

In the Scriptures, the bold Stephen died a martyr’s death when it may have appeared he had much more living to do. The Apostle John lived a long life. Paul in one place described himself as “Paul the aged.” The point is, God has not promised us individually a certain number of years He will give us to live on this earth. Some will live for many years, while others will be taken sooner than expected. The number is not the essential thing; what matters is what happens during that life.

Whether I live to be 85 or 35, what is of utmost importance is that my life is lived to the glory of God. Paul said in Romans 14:7, 8 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” The life, the death they both are to be unto Christ. As I’ve heard stated, “Live, while you’re alive!” We should live with great hope, zeal and joy as we serve God. I encourage you to evaluate your life. What are your goals? What is your passion in life? What is it that occupies and directs your thoughts, plans and actions? If these things aren’t focused towards Jesus Christ, they are missing the mark. May we truly be able to say with Paul, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).