The Last Day

        I'm sitting in a friend's family room as he and my husband watch an action movie.  It's about a guy whose daughter gets abducted and how he looks for her.  Relentlessly looks for her until, against all odds, he finds her.  Family.  We'll do anything for them.
       Then, my mind wanders  to two deaths that happened recently.  Both completely unexpected.  Sudden.  Shocking .  The first wàs our neighbor, discovered dead at home.  As far as I know, there was no clue this was about to happen.  Her son as called home from a job overseas to bury her. The second, the father of two boys who mean a lot to me.  He was coaching first base for his boy's baseball team.  Just patted a boy on the back for a base hit, then gone.  As quickly as that.  No warning, no clue this was his last day.
      When we hear of deaths like this, the first thing we think about is their family.  Who they left behind and what those people's lives will be like without them.  As a Christian, my thoughts always go to the deceased person's status with God.  Was he saved?  Was it obvious or do I have to wonder about it?  I think about missed chances I had to tell her about Jesus.  The finality of knowing I would never get another chance.  It fills me with regret and guilt.
     When my dad got sick my my main concern was with his salvation.  My dad never experienced any peace in Christ, so I just wasn't sure whether he was saved or not. Because dad's death was not sudden, we were able to have many discussions about Christ. Still, I just didn't know.  Although dad had a pastor, I also asked mine to come and see him.  My pastor visited him numerous times, with no obvious conclusion. Later, my dad's pastor said he had never seen anyone change like dad had.  He was confident dad was saved. I never have been, but I am trusting that pastor's belief to keep from  agonizing about my dad's destination.
     We all have people we love who still don' t know the Lord.  Many of them look at us in wonder, not able to figure out what in the world we're so passionate about.  Some of my loved ones DO NOT  want to discuss it any more .  And maybe I am pushy.  Maybe so.  But I don't want to live with regret if today is their last.  I want to spend time with them forever.  I don't want my last day on earth to be the last time I ever see them.
     So what to do?  Well there are only two things I know to do with someone who doesn't want to hear it.  Pray ( unceasingly, not intermittently ) for the person to be saved.  And pray that opportunities will arise so that someone, anyone can witness to them. It doesn't have to be you.  God may choose to use someone totally unexpected  to convince your loved one of the most important step in life to take.  Just keep praying.  Tomorrow may be someone's last day
   
   

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