Life is lived by each moment

…..the power of choice we exercise with regard to our relationship with Jesus Christ have eternal consequences. Those consequences will be glorifying or terrifying to each of us.

Source: PInterest

On Thursday 2nd July 2008 I woke up at 4:30am and did my usual thing. I went to the Wellness Center at 5:00am, worked out until 5:45am and then went back home and then went to work. I had a highly-active and fast-moving day at work, which was fun. When I arrived home at 5:00pm I noticed some tightening in my chest. Then it happened. I could not breathe, it felt like my heart was pounding out of control. By 6:30pm, I was in the hospital. Now, I have a serious heart problem. Three days later I went home to live an altered lifestyle. You may ask; ‘why am I telling you this?’ Well, here is the reason: If there are high priority things in your life that need to be done and you are procrastinating or waiting for the right time to do it, you could be making the biggest mistake of your life as well as everybody else’s life that you affect. My advice to you is --- Do not wait! Thursday morning and during the day, all was good, I did my usual things that I do and had a great day. However, over a one-hour period of time, things went from great to the potential of death or disability. Think about it – just one unexpected hour!

I was reminded again how fragile life is and why we should live on a moment by moment basis. On the 11th March 2016 my doctor ordered a heart catheterization. The reason he ordered it was because of progressive tiredness and exhaustion over the past year. The stress test and echogram seemed ok, but just for safety’s sake, the doctor wanted a heart cath. As it turned out, the window blood vessel was almost completely blocked in three places, so they placed three stents in that vessel (A stent is a small mesh tube that's used to treat narrow or weak arteries). They caught it just before a heart attack and potential death. One day I seemed fine, and the next day, potential death. Here is another question: Do you know when your last moment might be?

Source: Canaan Christian Fellowship

Now, here is my concern based on these life-altering experiences: I have questions for myself and for you.

1. If you were to die today, would you go to heaven or hell? - Our soul is eternal. Our flesh will die, but our soul lives on.  Where will your soul be? In glory or in agony? 

2. If you died today and had the chance to reflect on your life, what would you do differently? - Today is the day to make the adjustment; tomorrow may not be here for you.

3. If you were to die today would you use those resources He has given to you in the same way? -  If you had a chance to look at the world through the eyes of Jesus and you could hear the prayers coming to Him – If you could feel His passion for the unsaved and for the people that are considered the least by social and economic standards – If you could feel His hurt for the hurt of His people – If you could assume the role and passion of Jesus and then evaluate how you have used the resources He has given to you, would you use those resources He has given to you in the same way? The resources you were given were to elevate God among men, not to elevate man’s self among men. If you could see lost souls and did nothing, how will you answer that question when you are asked?  If you could see acute hunger or if you could see the naked or if you could see those in prison, and did nothing – how are you going to answer that question? 

4. If you could do it over again, would you choose to live your life the same way, or would you choose to live your life a different way? Would you see Jesus’s people through His eyes of passion, glory and pain? Or, would you remain cold to the heart of Jesus?  

5. Has your life been the example that you would want your family to follow? - Have you unconditionally loved your wife/husband and kids or grandkids? If you were to die, are you happy with the example of your life for them to follow?  How about your friends and community?  How was your example with them?

6. Have you prepared to take care of your family financially if you were no longer here? The capitalistic system we live under is a cold and cruel survivor system. You can benefit from that system or you can be a victim of that system.  Will your family have a chance to survive in that system?

Answers: While you are still alive you are given the power to make these choices. We have that power of choice today, but some day that power will be taken away and then there will be the consequences.

These are things that I have had to consider. Will you consider these things? I have come to know that in most cases, we are a product of our own choices. I have also come to understand that maybe the greatest power we possess is in the power of choice. There is no power in our life that is greater than the power we have to make choices, and someday, when we die, that power will be taken away and the consequences of our choices are fixed, and they will prevail. The power of choice is great. Let me remind myself and you that the power of choice we exercise with regard to our relationship with Jesus Christ have eternal consequences. Those consequences will be glorifying or terrifying to each of us.

This is something worth thinking about.

Author: David Leatherman 

May God bless and enrich your life

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