John 9:5, ”As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The brevity of life! It’s 4am and am deep in thought. A few days ago, a personal friend of mine, a lovely Christian lady and a dear ministry partner came back from work, went to bed and did not wake up in the morning. She wasn’t ill. People had seen her the day before. She was found in bed the next day, dead…still dressed in her night gown. Her friends and family are in shock. They are asking questions. “How do these things happen? Is this how life ends…so suddenly, so unexpectedly?” Yes, that’s how life is; that’s the “bitter-sweet” mystery called life on earth.

Jesus understood the brevity of life on earth. He knew He had to “work” while it was day, before the night arrived. He also knew that “as long as” it was His day, He owed God and humanity a duty to fulfill. He knew His night was fast approaching and He lived His life to the fullest. He was ready for death.

Lessons to remember. As I reflect on the words of Jesus and the “passing away” of my dear friend, here are 5 thoughts that come to mind:

1. Prepare for death for it can happen anytime. Don’t keep thinking you have time. I’m not wishing you an early death but you may not make 120 years. Am sorry to say it but, you may not make next year either. Is that “negative confession?” No! It’s the reality of life. Never let death take you by surprise. It’s coming and it may be sooner than you think. Prepare yourself for it.

2. Give today your best. Don’t procrastinate. Do now what you need to do now. Serve God. Serve sacrificially. Love humanity. Love fully. Write. Sing. Dance. Swim. Climb. Visit. Give life your best, today! Live as though this was your last day on earth.

3. Keep short accounts. Don’t keep sin or bitterness in your heart. Confess and release all uncleanliness. Today! Don’t meet your creator harboring sin and bitterness. Don’t push your repentance till tomorrow. Re-consecrate your life every day. Release those who hurt you yesterday. Live life full and free in God, never giving Satan an inch of a foothold in your life.

4. Discover and pursue your destiny. You are not a nonentity. You were created with a pre-determined purpose; and only God can reveal that purpose to you. You are specially crafted by God…for a purpose. Don’t live someone else’s life. Live the life you were created to live. Don’t live my life. Admire others, but live your divinely crafted life. Before death knocks, strive to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Fullness of joy and indescribable satisfaction come to those who live in God, all that God made for them to live. Pursuing “transient ambitions, earthly trinkets & fleshly pleasures” are a mirage!

5. Prepare for separation. Prepare to “lose” your loved ones. Prepare. They will leave you one day, or you will leave them. If you are both in Christ, then you will meet again. If not, it’s eternal separation. The best thing you can do for your loved ones is to point them to Christ, and help them love, embrace, walk with, live in and die in Christ. Love them but prepare for their departure.

My heartcry.

“Oh Lord, I surrender to You afresh. I surrender to Your purposes and Your timing. Teach me to number my days and apply my heart to wisdom. Cause me to pursue You above all else so that I will never suffer loss in this life and in the next. Deliver me from chasing shadows & the bread of vanity. Make me live in love and live the full life You ordained for me. And when my time to leave comes, O Lord, may I leave with joy because I know that You are already waiting to receive me. I pray these things also for my loved ones. In Jesus name. Amen.”