Death.

Honestly, it’s one of my favorite topics.

I’ve written about it repeatedly on Come Awake. Like here and here and here.

Actually, my very first contribution to this blog was called “Dying Words.”

One of my favorite articles is one that visualizes the length of a human life.

Not because I like being morbid, but because thinking about death is one of the surest ways to realize what’s important in life. A funeral speaks more powerfully than 100 sermons.

Consider this question—one that’s been on my mind lately:

How would you treat people
differently if you knew that was
the last time you would ever see them?

(At least on this side of eternity.)

What effect would that have? Do you think you would think / speak / behave differently?

Think about what you said to your coworkers last week. How you treated your mom yesterday. The attitude you had toward your spouse this morning.

If death abruptly ended
one of those relationships,
would you be at peace with that?

Scroll through your latest text messages. Would your conscience feel right if they ended up being the last ones you sent to that friend or relative?

I know, it’s a sobering thought.

But these are some of the questions that help me keep things in perspective.

Three years ago, one of my friends passed away unexpectedly. He was 26. We had met for lunch a couple months before he died. Afterward, I remember thinking, I should meet up with him again, but—for whatever reason—I decided to put it off till later. Now, of course, that opportunity is gone. I wish I had spent at least one more hour with him.

We’re not here for very long, folks.
Everyone’s days, including yours, are numbered.

How I wish we were wiser and more forward-looking with the way we spent our time.

My simple exhortation for all of us:

Live presciently—

…so that your regrets would be minimal if someone you loved died tonight.

Treat others kindly—

…recognizing that you don’t know when your last interaction with them will be.

Think eternally—

…not letting the small ups and downs of life take charge of your day.

Then, Lord willing, when our lives here on Earth are ending, we will echo Paul’s words in 2 Timothy:

The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. | 2 Timothy 4:6-7