-lyrics by Third Day

I don't know how to explain it
But I know that words will hardly do
Miracles with signs and wonders
Aren't enough for me to prove to you

Don't you know I've always loved you
Even before there was time
Though you turn away
I'll tell you still
Don't you know I've always loved you
And I always will

Greater love has not a man
Than the one who gives his life to prove
That he would do anything
And that's what I'm going to do for you

I have had this song stuck in my head for the past several days.

The Problem

If you found out you had 24 hours to live, what would you do? This is something that has been on my mind over the past week and a half. I came across the question in a study guide given to me during our Winter Retreat in Pigeon Forge. So, ask yourself. What would you do? What would you say? How would you live? I could not get around the unsettling fact that anyone that is honest with themselves would do something differently than the way they do it right now. So why is that? Why would it take our learning we have 24 hours to live for us to change our lives?

The Challenge

“Live in the moment”. “Live today like there is no tomorrow”.  "Seize the day" we are told. Those are a few often heard cliches. It is not my goal to present you with another cliché. However, I issue you a challege that will give new meaning to those cliches. Since that conference I have started each day the same way. Upon waking up, I get on my knees and I commit that day to God. I then ask for His grace and power to live that day as if it will be my last day on this earth. Why do I do this? Well, because one day it will be my last day. We should not wait for a doctor to give us a diagnosis. We should not wait for a life shattering event to take place. If you take this challenge seriously it will change your life. It will change the way you respond to people. You will change the words you say to them. Think about it for a moment. If you were to see someone for the very last time, what would you say to them? Would it be more important to win an argument, or to tell them you love them?

When I look back at the lives of the first Christians I see people who’s lives are so radically different from mine it humbles me. What made them so different? I presented this question to my students this past Wednesday as I issued this challenge to them. I claim to know Jesus but do I live like it? Do you? Think about those first Christians. They walked with Jesus. They ate with Jesus. They were changed by Jesus.  They claimed to know Him and their lives reflected that.  When He told them He would return they lived every single day in the expectation that He would keep His word. Yet we need someone to tell us we have 24 hours? We need that to tell someone we love them? We need this to be motivated to tell them about Jesus? That is so sad.

The challenge has been issued.  Live every single day in the expectation Jesus is either coming back today or that you will be going home to Him.  Our text for Wednesday night was from the book of 2 Timothy 4:6-8.  The Apostle Paul is nearing the end of his time on this earth and he is reflecting back on his life.  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  Paul lived with the expectation just mentioned.  Understand, as Paul said in Philippians 1:21, "For me, living is Christ and dying is gain."  Our lives are so short. We will all have that final day.  I want to go out of this life glorifying God with my last breath.  Do you? I think back to the movie Gladiator.  As Maximus is about to go out and fight the undefeated gladiator he is reminded by Proximo of the brevity of life.  He says, "We mortals are but shadows and dust." Maximus runs up the ramp as Promixo says it again, this time exclaiming, "Shadows and dust, Maximus!"  Proximo was right. Our lives are but a shadow.  In the end our bodies will return to the dust.  Maximus runs into battle as Proximo's words ring in his ears.  He is ready for battle.  He is also ready for death.  Seize this day.  Live in this moment.  Be like the Apostle Paul.  Finish strong.  Finish the fight.