“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:11-14
How many more grains of sand are remaining in the hour glass of your life? Have you put your will in a place where your family will find it? Have you shared your faith story with the grumpy next-door neighbor? “Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” is another way of saying that the end of your journey is a lot closer now than when you were Baptized. What kind of legacy are you leaving for your family, what kind of footprint will you leave?
What is your greatest desire for your children and grandchildren? What is your hope for the coming generations; have you taken steps to finish well? Has your time been spent sharing the Gospel within your family, within your city, within your State or been focusing on one of the ends of this earth?
Has it been your hope and desire that your children and grandchildren will grow up and become men and women of compassion, honesty, morality, responsibility, selflessness, loyalty, discipline and sacrifice? Your hope should be that they will become men and women of faith, trusting in Jesus Christ as their Savior seeking to follow Him as the Master of their lives each and every day. While we cannot make this decision for others, we can show them the way by being an example of Christ’s love and of His power to transform every life that is submitted to Him.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay