Every moment is precious. No one knows how long they have to live on earth. Every day matters. Every moment matters. The things that happen in a moment can impact lives for eternity.
We recognize this reality when we are on a mission trip. For the few days that you are on the mission trip, you are very conscious of the fact that your time is limited in that nation to share Christ, serve others, and fulfill your mission. Every moment on that mission trip matters. Every conversation is an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. Every action is an opportunity to demonstrate the gospel in actions.
You do not know how much time you have left on earth.
With the time you have remaining, how will you live?
The apostle Peter wrote to a group of people who were experiencing religious persecution. Some of their friends had been put to death because of their faith in Jesus. Sound familiar? Like modern days?
1 Peter 4:1-6
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. 5 They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.
Live your life focused on Christ. It is very tempting to make your human desires the top of your priority list. Jesus was tempted to do that too, but in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed to the Father, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus did not live for human desires but rather for God’s will (v2). Follow His example. Live your life focused on Christ.
Live your life being finished with sin. Now I will go ahead and tell you that sin is not finished with you. But if you have been saved by grace, you are forgiven of your sin. And your attitude toward sin should be, I am finished with you. In the past you may have participated in many sinful activities (v3), but with the time you have remaining, live your life pursuing holiness and Christlikeness. Live your life being finished with sin. Let Jesus help you overcome temptation. He suffered and died for you so that you could be finished with sin.
Live your life fearlessly because of Christ. When you stop wild living, people may slander you (v4). They will give an account to God (v5), so you don’t have to worry about them. Even though others in the past have lost their lives because of the gospel (v6), you are fearless because of Christ. You realize that the worst thing that could happen to you from extreme religious persecution is that you could die, and if that were to happen, you know that you would go to heaven because of your faith in Jesus Christ. With that confidence you are fearless and you will have maximum impact for Christ. You will serve, love and share the gospel every opportunity you have, in the same ways that you do on mission trips.
With the time you have remaining, how will you live?
Our church’s recent judgment house production was the biography of Hannah, a young girl who died of cancer. Her mother spoke to our church. Her story was entitled Hannah’s Hope. Jesus was definitely her (and is our) hope.