Live Like You Were Dying

I'm re-reading a series by Karen Kingsbury right now. One character in this series is diagnosed, very suddenly, with an aggressive form of brain cancer. She literally only has a few months to live, and those months are filled with pain, sickness, and the continuing decline of her body. However, as the end draws near for her time on this earth, she is filled with peace and excitement as she looks forward to seeing Jesus. This part of this fictional series is hard to read, to be honest. As I was reading it this time, though, something different stuck out to me. As this woman was in her final days here, she was at peace. She had loved the Lord, and she had loved other people, through her last moments. She didn't have many regrets; she had lived fully during the days she was given. 

I was convicted by this, because I feel like so often I go through life as if I have all the time in the world... When in reality, I don't. I only have however much time God has granted me, and since I don't know how many days and years that is, I want to strive to live each day to the fullest. I want to make the most of each day and each opportunity that God gives me. Two verses in Psalms come to mind:

Psalm 39:4-5 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure." 

This life is a vapor, just a quick sojourn in the long journey of eternity.  I want my life to count, to not be wasted. I want what I do with my time here to echo in eternity, because I lived for The Lord instead of for myself. I want to make the most of each gift, each day, that I receive from the Father, knowing that it is just that: a gift. I want to live fully in the gift of TODAY, rejoicing and giving thanks in it. I want to live and love today, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. 

As I was thinking about this, a song by Tim McGraw came to mind. It's called "Live Like You Were Dyin'."  It's a song about a man who receives a terminal diagnosis from his doctor, and in the face of that, someone asks him what he did. His reply? 

"He said I was finally the husband, 

That most the time I wasn't.

And I became a friend a friend would like to have.

And all the sudden goin' fishing, 

Wasn't such an imposition.

And I went three times that year I lost my dad.

Well I finally read the good book,

And I took a good long hard look at what I'd do

If I could do it all again.

I went sky divin', 

I went rocky mountain climbin', 

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu.

And I loved deeper, 

And I spoke sweeter, 

And I gave forgiveness I've been denying, 

And he said someday I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dyin'.   -Tim McGraw

The question that has been on my mind: What would our lives (my life) look like if we lived each day as if it was our last? If we stopped taking each day for granted, recognizing that it is a gift and could be our last? 

What if you lived each day as if you were dying? 

Would you tell the people in your life that you love them? 

Would you forgive the ones who've hurt you? 

Would you let go of bitterness you've been hanging on to?  

Would you stop letting unimportant things clutter your time? 

Would you live joyously, gratefully? 

Would you share the love and message of Christ unashamedly? 

God Will Provide

I just finished the book Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. It was a thought-provoking book, giving me a lot to contemplate and pray about. One part of the book that caught my attention was Piper’s discussion of our material needs as Christians, and whether or not God really supplies all our needs.

Piper says that as Christ followers we are called to take risks. He even says that our “obedience is risk.” (Pg. 92) He lists some of the risks we might face as Christ followers (pg. 92-93):

“tribulation” Acts 14:22

“distress” 2 Corinthians 6:4, 12;10

“persecution” Matthew 5:11-12

“danger” 2 Corinthians 11:26

“sword” Acts 12:2

“famine and nakedness”

Piper then goes on to discuss the last risk, of famine and nakedness, claiming that they are the greatest problem. It’s the biggest problem because it boils down to the question: Will God really provide for all my needs?

Jesus says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Then just a few verses later in Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus says “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

These verses make it clear that we do not need to worry about our material needs; God will provide. However, this seems contradictory when compared to the list above of risks that Christ followers might face. Piper poses the question: “Well, which is it? Are Christians subject to ‘famine and nakedness’ or will God provide ‘all these things’ when we need them?” (Pg. 93) Thinking about the believers in the New Testament, we see that many of them were beaten, stripped, and starving. Was God not able to provide for them, or was He choosing not to?

This made me stop and think for a little bit, because it does seem like a huge contradiction. However, Piper’s next section helped to bring clarity. He explains that the statement “all these things” in Matthew 6 means, “that you will have everything you need to do his will and be eternally and supremely happy in him,” (Pg. 94).

Everything you need to do HIS will. Everything you need to be happy IN HIM.

Boom! Understanding finally dawned on me, as I began to grasp this passage in a new way. What I consider “necessary” might not really be a true need for me. God will provide what I need to be able to do His will. Piper writes, “How much food or clothing are necessary? Necessary for what? we must ask. Necessary to be comfortable? No, Jesus did not promise comfort. Necessary to avoid shame? No, Jesus called us to bear shame for his name with joy. Necessary to stay alive? No, he did not promise to spare us death—of any kind…. God does not promise enough food for comfort or life—he promises enough so that you can trust him and do his will.” (Pg. 94)

Maybe this is something that God taught you a long time ago, but to me, right now, this is something new that God is teaching me. It's so convicting, and yet so exciting! It’s convicting to me because it’s a call to focus on HIM and not on the material things that are oh so tempting and eye-catching in this life. It’s convicting to me because it’s a good reminder to not worry and stress about the material things. But, it’s also exciting to me! It’s exciting because I think that if you can begin to grasp this, it will free you. Free you from worrying about the material things, free you from worrying and wondering if God will or will not provide. It’s exciting because it reminds me that God does provide, maybe not in the fashion or capacity that we might think we need, but He is our Provider. 

It brought to mind the song "Enough" by Chris Tomlin, which says:

“All of You is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough.”

Our God is sovereign and He is all-knowing, so He will provide what we really need to do His will, and to find true happiness in the only place it can be found: in Him.