08/05/2025
When The Time Comes…
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
I was thinking about how it felt to save a life, this week. I was remembering what it felt like to know that there was a person alive, who would have been dead, if I hadn’t been there. It’s an amazing privilege to be the one in the right place at the right time. Whenever I hear an ambulance, a fire truck responding, or a police siren, I breath a prayer for the heroes who respond day after day.
I began to reflect again about 10 years ago, when a friend had stopped by the house on ramrod. We were on the back second story deck, and I noticed a small boy sitting on the bank of the canal, across from our house, in an open area between us. No one was around, and in the time it took to turn and tell my friend about him, the boy had slipped into the 15 foot deep water. I jumped over the 2nd story railing and was running when I hit the ground below. There was a limb in the yard, and a voice said pick it up. When I got to the spot, the boy was on the bottom, 15 feet down, looking up, with his hands raised. I tapped his hand with the branch. He grabbed it and I pulled him out. As I walked around with him, to find out who he belonged to, his grandmother came running up frantically. She had been looking all over for this little special needs child. God had me there, at the right place and time, to see him slip in the water, so he could grow up, and have a life and enjoy the love of his family, or no one would have known until they dragged the canal….
What if we went into every day, as though we were going to meet folks, who were living their last day on earth….
One fellow was at the doctor’s, and he knew it was coming, but still the message from his doctor was not any less shocking. “This is to inform you, Jim, that this will probably be your last week you have to live. I would advise you to make every effort to get your affairs in order and take care of anything that you have left unfinished”.
"Time has seemed to fly by in a big hurry," he thought to himself. "I had so many great things going. I don't understand why this should happen to me now."
But how often does this happen with no particular explanation, rhyme or reason, to someone, every week, somewhere in the earth.
Jim was angry, confused and saddened, all of those things together. *……..But after some reflection and a few tears he began getting his house in order. Pulling out his address book he started with the "A's" and made his final phone calls.
"I've always enjoyed my conversations with you, he said. I just wanted to tell you that I think you have some great talent. Don't waste a moment of time. Keep working as hard as you do and you'll make it," he told one person.
To another he said, "You've been my strength, my inspiration through all of these years. If I haven't told you enough, I hope you know how much I love you and your family".
In just a few short time he was able to reach most everyone he wanted to talk to, or leave a message for. He even contacted some of the people on his email list with whom he had only had casual contact over the past few years.
He stopped by his barber to say thanks for the great job he did. "It took some magic to make me look good," he joked. They hugged, shed a few tears and he continued on.
He wrote out a few personal note cards he wanted to leave for the mailman, the mechanic who kept his car in such great shape, the woman behind the meat counter at the market. "You always gave me such great service and you have such a beautiful smile," he wrote to her.
He decided to start walking around the neighborhood. Along the way he smiled and greeted everyone with a cheerful, "Great day to be alive, isn't it?"
Passing by the park he succumbed to his child-like desires and spent a few minutes on the swings and sliding board. Laughing and giggling, he drew the attention of some of the parents, and upon seeing the joy on his face, they joined in, as they visited their own memories.
As he continued around the neighborhood he stopped by the local flower shop and bought some flowers and handed a flower to everyone who passed by. "Take time to enjoy the beauty of the world. You are so much a part of it!" he told each one.
Yes, it seemed like this last days might very well be his best days. He returned home to the comfort and love of his family. Through the week, they talked for hours about the wonderful times they shared and they shared how grateful they were to him for all he had done for them.
Then in the early morning hours, at the close of the week, as he held his loving wife in his arms, surrounded by his children, he breathed his last breath, on his last day.
The reality is, we usually don’t get that notice that says how much time we have left. Few ever have the time to get all of their affairs in order. We may not have that last chance to tell those we love how much they mean to us. We don't have the week, to thank the people in our lives, give encouragement to those who need it, appreciate the kindness of those who touch our lives daily or give the gift of hope to perfect strangers.
Can I reflect for a moment? In 2000, I was in the emergency room, with my 5th heart attack. Winnie was holding my hand as I lay there while Dr. Callejah waited to see how severe it was. My vital signs began to slip away, (it was all very peaceful) and I said good-by to Winnie, and told her I loved her and that I could feel myself slipping away. I didn’t want to lose consciousness, before I had a chance to tell her. (as you can see, I made it) But it let me know how quickly everything can change, how quickly you can be ushered into your last physical moment on this earth. What power our lives would have if we lived as though it were our last day, or that the person we met next, was living their last day on earth.
The truth be known, no matter how much time we have left, there will come a time and a day for all of us, when it will be our last one. When I was a young man, I heard a visiting evangelist say, that “we should live our lives as dying men, who are dealing with dying people.”
It impacted me deeply….
It’s been called “folding up the tent”, “taking the long journey”, “The final destination”, “The big sleep”, “Six feet under”, “Pushing up daises”, “The great adventure”, “Buying the farm”, “Gathered to the Lord”, “A better place”
I call it “Home”, “Eternal Life”, “New Beginnings”, “Glorified Bodies”, “The Final Victory”, “Ruling and Reigning”, “My Destiny”, “Reunited”, “Infinity and Beyond”, “Forever With The Lord”…
And Paul says it this way… in 1Corinthians 15:52…..we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
James 4:13 Why is it that you say, Today or tomorrow we will go here or there and continue for a time, and buy and sell, and become prosperous. 14 You do not know what shall be on the morrow. For what is your (physical) life? It is even as the morning mist, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away”.
In one of the Peanuts comic strips by Charles Schultz, the television is on, but there is no one in the room listening to it. The announcer is talking about a huge Thanksgiving golf tournament that is in progress. He says, "Smith has to make this putt to win the championship, or there will be no tomorrow."
Just as he says, "There will be no tomorrow," in walks Lucy. She immediately goes into a panic and starts running around, yelling, “It’s the end, oh God, it’s the end”. She finds the other children and starts screaming and yelling to them, "The world is coming to an end”. They just announced it on television." Her panic quickly spreads and we see all the peanuts kids as they go wildly screaming about the end of the world. Finally, in the last frame of the cartoon, all of the children are huddled on top of Snoopy's doghouse waiting for the end of the world. And Charlie Brown finally speaks up with a puzzled voice: “I thought that the Great Pumpkin was supposed to return and rise up in the pumpkin patch first.”
(Charlie Brown is like a lot of folks’, their theology really needs a lot of help)
I came across the following perspectives on living your life….
Tony Robins… “Live like it’s your last day on earth, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, work like you don’t need the money”…
James Cabell… “While it is most people’s desire, to leave footprints on the sand of time, it is even more important to make sure those footprints point in the right direction”.
Charles De Lint… “When all is said and done, all roads lead to the end. So, it's not only important which road you take, but what your priorities are, as you travel it”.
Mike Melville…. “What you want to do, what you can do, and what you actually do, is limited only by what you believe you can do”.
If you were to ask Elijah, “ how will you spend your last day on earth?”
Elijah would have said, …
“I want to be found in my Place”… operating in my calling,
Elijah walked 55 miles that last day, appointing, anointing, prophesying, establishing, and calling forth… from Samaria, to Gilgal, to Bethel, to Jericho, to the East side of the Jordon and back to the mountains of Samaria, where he was transported up by a chariot and horses of fire.
If you were to ask Stephen, “How will you spend your last day on earth?” He would have said….
“I want to be found, enlarging the Kingdom of God”… as he preached Jesus to them, and they began to stone him to death, he looked up and saw Jesus, standing and applauding him, and welcoming him home to heaven. Thousands, were encouraged by his example, and gave their lives for the kingdom of heaven, inspired by his courage.
If you were to ask King Hezekiah, after being told he was going to die, and to get his house in order…Brother, how will you spend your last day on earth… He would tell you,
“I want to be found proclaiming God’s faithfulness”… We are told, he turned his back to the wall, and began to recount the faithfulness of God, and how he had been privileged to serve, honor and obey the Lord those many years… It touched the heart of God, and God changed his mind, and let him live another 14 years! God responds to faithfulness and He loves to give second chances!
A professor stood before his class of seniors, who were organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam. "I want to say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are off to medical school after summer. So that no one gets their GPA messed up because they might have been celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like to opt out of the final exam today will still receive a 'B' for the course."
There was much rejoicing in the class as students got up, walked to the front of the class, and took the professor up on his offer. As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over the handful of remaining students and asked, "Is there anyone else? This is your last chance." One final student rose up and chose to take the easy “B”. The professor closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining. "I'm glad to see that you who remain, believe in yourself, and pass on a hand out" he said. "YOU are all getting an 'A'."
(Believe in yourself, don’t take the easy way out! There’s an A waiting)
If you were to ask King David, and Moses, “How would you spend your last day on earth”… They would have told you… “We want to leave the blessing of God upon our future generations”.. Solomon followed after David’s heart for God and when asked what he wanted, he asked for wisdom to rule the people of God.
Moses was gifted to hear and see God, so that he might lead the people, and he passed on to Joshua an ear for God and a vision for the invisible.
What are we passing on to our heirs, so they are strengthened in their calling and given an example in their walk before God.
Solomon, received wisdom as he received the counsel of David
Elisha received a double portion anointing as he stayed by Elijah
Joshua, became a mighty deliverer of Israel as Moses deposited that into him.
Their mentors faithfully passed on to them a passion for God, an intense yearning to know Him and a deep abiding relationship with Him.
If you were to ask Enoch, “How would you spend your last day on earth”, He would have told us,….
“I want to be in the presence of my Lord and Master and my very best friend”… Enoch was known as the man who walked with God… and one day, he just got so carried away with His presence, that he got carried away!
“And he was not, for God took him” Ohhhhh, how He loved the presence of God.
The song “In Your presence”, says……
In Your presence, that's where I am strong
In Your presence, Oh Lord my God
In Your presence, that's where I belong
Seeking Your face, touching Your grace
In the cleft of the Rock, in Your presence, O God
If you were to ask the 3 Hebrews who are recorded in Daniel’s record of Babylonian slavery, “How would you like to spend your last day on earth’?....I’m sure they would tell you….
“Where ever God’s will is for me, that’s where I’m thrilled to be”! For He is always with me there, He’s my shield and my buckler.
And in the fiery furnace, they found that God had planned triumph in the midst of their trial, as they rejoiced and celebrated that they were right where God wanted them, God put an asbestos anointing on them and made it cool to be hot! They were content to be in His will, no matter where that was……
Daniel was content in the lion’s den, and the Lord gave the lions upset stomachs at just the thought of eating him… And Daniel was able to say, “Not my will but Thine be done” God took the roar out of Leo the lion, shut his mouth, and turned him into a big p***y cat!
But, with all of that being said, about some great heroes of faith, I must bring up the subject of the rich man in Luke 12, who didn’t think he needed God, and that he had done it all in his own strength. He was in the midst of saying “I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns, I will take my ease”… and God said, “this is your last night on earth, you’d better think this thing through again”…
He had not remembered God, in all that he had acquired,
He had not cultivated a relationship with God
He had not desired God’s presence, only the blessing
He had not led his family in honoring and serving God
He had not helped those who were less fortunate
He had not used his wealth to promote the kingdom of God
He had not prepared for eternity.
(that’s like jumping from a plane without a parachute)
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for (what value shall he place) on his eternal soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works”.
As Winnie and I are nearing the time of our departure from Key West, Let me now say a few things that want to leave with each of you…. knowing that we are all one day closer right now, to the last day we will have on this earth with our family and friends.
1. Be truthful, about your feelings, your passions, your dreams, and be honest with others. Be faithful to who you are.
2. Fulfill the dreams that matter most, and do it with the people you love. Nothing is impossible with the right ability, motives, and attitude
3. Work better, believe more, love more, laugh more and expect more. The time that you invest in your faith is the greatest asset that you have and without a doubt, the best use of your time.
4. Forgive, restore and don’t walk around wounded. Don’t waste your precious time, your life or your love, living with regret. Say what you need to say to your father, mother, wife, husband, child, brother or sister while you have time and opportunity.
I began todays sermon, by telling you about the young man I pulled out of our canal. Even as I say this, I’m aware of the many, who had no one around, at the right place, and the right time, to give them a second chance. We may be their only chance… their last contact on earth.
Like it or not, we will all deal with the question, at some point in time…..Lord, let someone be there for those who have no one….
What would you do if it was your last week on this earth? And how different would you live, if you knew that it actually was your last contact with family…friends…coworkers…neighbors…and folks you planned to witness to and just never got around to it?
Lord help us to be there, just as we will need someone to be there for us..
Let Us All Join In A Prayer of Agreement… "Lord, I continually ask you to fill me with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that your Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you and pleasing in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of you, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might, so that I may have great endurance and patience, giving joyful thanks to you, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light and truth. Thank you for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness and bringing me into the kingdom of your Son. Lord Jesus, in the midst of the changes in my life, you are the constant and unchanging force which I can depend on, the same yesterday, today and forever. Even as I now look to You, I believe that the prayer of faith, changes everything. May I be willing to change those things which I am able, accept those things which it is not your will to change, and be able to discern your purpose and plan in each. Father, I ask that you open the path before me, that I might see the unseen and hear the inaudible, so that You can accomplish the impossible in my life. You are the source of Love and Life and I know that abundance and prosperity flow from you and I pray that all of my family might yield to Your ways, Your truth and the blessings which You bring. You have in store, much more than I could think or ask or comprehend. You are more than enough for me, more than enough in health and wellness. Father, You are more than enough for me, in material provision and Spiritual and emotional wholeness. Lord, let my heart express itself in a practical love that reflects Your love. May I always be ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Let no distractions of earth come between us, Lord, for I place my past, my present and my future into your hands. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
