Morbid Thoughts
Scripture Reading: Psalm 39:4-6
The Bible occasionally reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. James compares it to a vapor, a morning mist that comes and quickly dissipates. Most of us live like we don’t have an expiration date. Friends and family go, but we don’t take seriously the idea that we will join them, and it might be sooner than we think.
I do think we can become morose and dark if our constant refrain is our demise. It can lead us to fearful living and depression. So, following the Scripture’s lead, we ought to consider our end, but do it about as much as the Scripture does it, which is to say do that occasionally. No, I don’t have a set schedule for you. I’m saying you should ask the Lord to “teach you to number your days,” but you shouldn’t be ringing that bell like you are a Salvation Army Christmas kettle soldier.
Why do we need that occasional reminder? First, so you will be ready. Make sure you are ready to meet the Lord before you meet the Lord. Don’t be like the folks in Jesus parable who were invited to the wedding but didn’t come properly clothed. To be clear, trust in Christ alone for forgiveness.
A second reason would be so that you won’t waste more time here than you have to. I slipped a fiver to my grandchildren while on a trip and told them they can spend it however they wish, but it’s all they are getting. They are pretty thoughtful about what they are going to do with that money. They pick up toys and put them down. They are focused on spending it and spending it well – at least from their childlike perspective. We could learn something from that. God has handed us this life and said, “here you go, it’s the only one I’m going to give you, do what you will.”
A third reason is relationships. I was talking to a guy who worked for a particular company and it happened to be a company a friend of mine had spent 30 years working for. It hadn’t been all that long before this conversation that my friend retired, but when I mentioned his name the guy I was talking to had no idea who he was. He’d never heard of him. So, it didn’t take long for his investment in that business to be completely forgotten. But I talked to one of his grandchildren and they told me all about their pops. Your business investment, while necessary, won’t likely be remembered for long. Your investment in people will live on long after you are gone.
There are other reasons to occasionally remind yourself of the shortness of life. But those three are a good start.