Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s looking more and more like Spring around the farm but it’s not feeling much like it this morning so my “visit” to the porch was short and sweet. When I met with the Creator of all things to give my Praise and my Thanks for Who He is and what He’s done for me, I found myself distracted with thoughts of time. The older I get the more often I hear about the death of someone I know…some I knew well, and some just casually…but over the last couple of years a dozen or so have left this life before me. It’s impossible not to think about time when you hear that someone’s time is up, and it’s impossible not to compare notes when we do…at least for me. Did I do enough? Did THEY do enough? And for so many, I wonder if I’ll ever see them again. That’s a question no one likes to think about and one that keeps me Serving and Sharing as fast and as hard as I can before it’s too late for me and for them. Isn’t that the way you’re walking out your Journey of Life too?

The Bible says that life is like a “vapor” – we’re not here long at all before we cease to exist on this earth, and when you look at it that way, you realize that there’s not much Time to make an Eternal Difference at all. One day the time will be up for each of us and it’s what we did with the time allotted to us that will Determine our Eternity…AND possibly the Eternity of someone else. Obviously, only God Knows the Heart and only He Determines the Path, but on the surface of Life and from the outside looking in, the Destiny of some doesn’t look so promising. Some talked about God a lot and they could quote scripture far better than I can BUT they lived a life in horrific bondage to sin…never overcoming through Jesus Christ…a life more focused on sin than on Fruit and one that never really understood (or proclaimed) the Power of God…a God so much bigger than their bondage. Will I see them again? I have absolutely no idea BUT when we chew on the Word of God long enough, we realize that Salvation is more complicated than just professing to believe that Jesus died for our Sins AND THAT’S what keeps me busy Spurring others along.

A few of my friends lived a quiet life and only God Knows what was really inside when they died. They may nod in agreement in a conversation about Christ and once in a while they might even say “amen” BUT they lived a life with absolutely no evidence of their Faith for the world to see and they never seemed to hunger for more. They weren’t the Salt and they weren’t the Light and they didn’t seem to care one way or another if anyone else ever came to a Saving Faith in Jesus. When I’ve been bold enough to ask a professed Believer about why they don’t talk about Jesus, they’ll usually let me know that they’re just “quiet about such things”. I can’t say for sure, but I think if they ever bit into the finest steak the world has ever known, you wouldn’t be able to shut them up from sharing the good news of good food. Did they love the Jesus they kept on the shelf? Did they EVER Hunger and Thirst for more? Will I ever see them again? I have absolutely no idea BUT Salvation is more complicated than just professing to believe that Jesus died for our Sins…HE WANTS US TO LIVE FOR HIM…AND THAT’S what keeps me busy Spurring others along with Love.

I’m not the judge or the jury, thank God. I’m just a Humble Vessel with a Heart for Jesus and enough Love and Compassion to Speak the Truth. I don’t want to face my Maker one day and be held accountable for all those people who SAID they knew but didn’t. I want to do my Part. I want to leave no stone left unturned. I want to be Bold enough to ask, and Compassionate enough to share so that when their time is up – or when mine is – I won’t have to wonder. God says, “When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and YOU DO NOT WARN THEM OR SPEAK OUT to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood”. That pretty much sums it up for those who follow Jesus Christ.

Most people will say “may they rest in peace” or “they’re in a better place now” – and those are kind and comforting things to say even if it’s not true for all. So, as long as I have breath in my body, I want to do what God expects me (and you) to do – to have enough Compassion and Love to speak the Truth – to warn them – to Introduce them to Everlasting Peace, to Describe the Better Place and what it takes to see it for all of eternity. My Life is only a vapor just like everybody else’s is but I’m determined to Live For Christ and to do what He tells me to. I’ll do my Part because I love Him and He’ll do His part because He loves us all enough to die for us and He doesn’t want anyone to perish.

How about you?