Staring Eternity in the Face

You may think I'm a little crazy. You won't be the first. You may think I'm being a overly dramatic. That's a definite possibility, too. Someone said I was morbid. Someone else said it was a little "sick" or "twisted." Perhaps so. But at least let me explain.

I came across a photo somewhere on an Internet search several months back, was intrigued by it, and saved it to my hard drive. When I was searching through some files recently looking for a document I came across the photo, and decided to use it as desktop background of my office computer.

It's a picture of a headstone, with the name "Letson" carved in it. Nothing else--no first names, no birth or death dates, no catchy epitaphs. Just my last name, etched into a big granite rock, sets against the backdrop of a serene cemetery setting. And every time I come into my office and boot up my computer, there it is, staring me in the face, a reminder that one day, my name will be carved into a headstone too.

I don't know when that day will come, and I'm glad I don't. But I do know that, according to Hebrews 9:27, "it is appointed for a man to die once, and after that judgment." In other words, like everyone else I have an appointment with physical death, which means my days here on earth are numbered. I only have a limited time to live, to love, to give, to serve, to make a difference, so it's best I not waste my days on frivolous pursuits, when eternity stares me in the face very day.

The Psalmist wrote: "Teach us to number our days so we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) We count our days, so we can make our days count. Whatever it takes, we all need to be reminded sometimes in the ebb and flow of life to "be careful how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:15-16).

Is the image on my computer a little over the top? Maybe so. But for me, it's a nice daily reminder not to take my life for granted and to live out my purpose for His kingdom sake. I need to do what I can, while I can, to influence this world for the gospel and to love others with the love of Jesus.

By the way, I'm glad that I don't have anything to fear about dying, since Jesus has conquered death and the grave on our behalf, and I have the blessed assurance that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." O death where is your sting? It's gone. Thanks be to God, it's long gone.

In the meantime, I'm sure glad the Lord has allowed us to spend this little bit of time we have here on earth together, serving Him through such a wonderful church like Shelby Crossings. I am praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

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