Whenever someone passes away that is close to me or well-known in the entertainment industry I immediately start to consider my own life. How drastic it is to be living one day and gone the next. If I think about it too long it becomes a little overwhelming. In the book of Psalms I came across several verses written by a man named David who came to the same realization, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. Interlude. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:4-7 (NLT).
Knowing that life is short makes me wonder if I’m furthering the Kingdom of God and making an impact in others lives through my relationship with Christ. I’d like to think that despite my seemingly small part in this world that I’m bringing people to Jesus or closer to Him. I’ve never shared The Gospel to someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus so at this point I don’t know if I’ve brought anyone to Jesus. Maybe it’s too early to tell but it’s something that I worry about. Yes, I worry that I’m not doing enough for Him. Sure, I’ve been told how people appreciate me and that I’m a blessing to them but have I motivated them to action? Have I impacted them in a way where they want to pursue Jesus more; to strengthen their relationship with Him? I honestly don’t know but I can’t let that discourage me.
However, in spite of my uncertainty, if I look at life through David’s perspective I gain a sense of urgency to pursue Jesus with a greater passion, to invest more time into the relationships He has placed in my life, and to step out into the things He has called me to do even if I’m afraid. Maybe that is why David wanted to be reminded that his time on earth was short…to keep himself humble and not living in a fantasy that a lifetime is eternity when in fact it is very brief. David may have become overwhelmed at this thought but he didn’t wallow in it or become anxious but instead asked a question. Lord, in view of my fragile life, my life as but a moment in your sight, where can I turn to regain my strength from this realization…that everything can change so quickly…to fully embrace my life and to view it from your perspective? His answer, the Lord! That is where he finds his hope and where I need to remember that it’s where I find mine, too.
In Galatians 6:9-10 it says, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone – especially those in the family of faith.” This verse reminds me of the process of starting a garden. I plant a seed having faith that it will produce a harvest in due time given the right conditions for growth. Faith is believing something will happen even though I can’t see the results yet. The only reason why I don’t stop watering the seed even though I don’t see anything is because I have faith that by tending to the seed it will eventually grow. I think this is a good outlook to have on life. I must be patient with myself. Remembering that things take time and that just because I don’t see any harvest doesn’t mean I should be discouraged and give up. Instead I need to continue in faith believing that Jesus is working in me and through me to produce something that will ultimately be for His glory.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).
I need to relax and live one day at a time knowing that God is working in me and giving me the desire and power to do what pleases Him. That’s His job not mine. I shouldn’t be focusing on doing enough for God but instead revealing to others what God is doing in me and taking steps of faith into the things which He has prepared for me to do as I see them becoming clearer in my life. Being anxious and worried leaves me exhausted and I know that is not the life Jesus died for me to have. Jesus died, “…that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). When I have my hope fully in Him is when I can experience this abundant life!
My life is but a moment, a breath, here and then gone, but with Jesus as my hope, Savior, and Lord I can rest knowing that He is using me to bring people to Him even though I can’t see it yet.