My kids sometimes get upset with me because I think about heaven a lot, and I receive great amounts of joy being with those who are so close to being in the presence of our King, encouraging them in the Word of Life and Truth and singing songs that actually make us feel like we’re in heaven already—
where the streets are gold even though we’re still on this dusty soil. But, if I only had one more day to live,…
I would write a letter. Well, I would do more than that, of course, if I could – like give hugs and cry and say I love you over and over again, but I wouldn’t say “good-by. ‘
I think “See you soon!” would work better.
I would also write a letter. I would try to keep it very short and simple, yet in hopes to be long lasting and complex all at the same time.
And my letter would be for all the kids.
Yes, my kids and so many more.
My letter is for the children, even the ones that are in their 80’s. And it would say, “Turn to Jesus, now- today, every minute – because all the things in life that you are searching for…they’re all found in Him. I’m not just saying that, I’m telling the truth: They’re ALL found in Him!
Yes, continue with getting up and getting ready for school or work or nurturing young ones. Get in the car, or grab that subway, and that fast meal on the go . . .
but, don’t go it alone anymore.
Open your eyes, and perhaps “turn around” and discover, you’ve got a Friend.
One who sticks closer than a brother. He goes with you, in the high and the low, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,”
Jesus says this in Matthew 28:20.
But, I have to tell you, only because I’ve learned the hard way, that if you get going a bit too fast or even seem to be going in the wrong direction, He might “make you to lie down.”
Oh, yes, but please, listen to this: He makes you lie down, and it’s on green pastures.
If I only had one more day to live, I would want to remind the children that if He makes you lie down, it’s on “pastures of green.”
And He really does lead “beside still waters”.
Trust me, I know. Do you think I would waste words? No, if I only had one more day to live, I would only write the ones that really matter.
You might not believe me though, even though I only had one more day to live. You might think, “No, I need a lot more than Jesus.”
Well, do you need a Friend? Do you need some work? We all need friends, and we all need work. Well, He speaks words like no other friend:
“You did not choose Me, I chose you. And I gave you this work, to go and produce fruit,” (most likely, He’s talking about the fruit of love, you know — joy and peace, patience and kindness, goodness and gentleness, faithfulness and, last but not least, self-control.)
You can still show up in your kitchen, or your garage, or your classroom or your work space or the common living space and do that, right?
“You don’t know my situation,”
you might be saying,
or,”I can’t have ‘joy’ while this is going on.
And there is no “peace.”
Perhaps you’re arguing, “There’s no way I can be “gentle” with this impossible person in my life. That’s asking way too much.”
Of course it’s too much. But what’s impossible with man is possible with God.
That’s why we need to turn to Jesus.
He is all those things. He can touch your life and change you from the inside out! If I only had one more day to live, I would sing you a song you probably learned when you were two: “My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there’s Nothing my God cannot do, for you!”
Yes, you see, Jesus, the One we should turn to because everything we need is found in Him, He said, “You did not choose Me, I chose you… I want you to produce fruit that will last.” Hey, so even if you haven’t chosen Him yet, please know – He’s chosen you. And when you finally DO choose Him, He says, “Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love one another.” John 15:16-17.
Do you need provision? Have you asked Jesus? He might not answer the exact way you want, but I can tell you, because if this was my last day on this earth, I would want you to know, that for that day, that specific moment in time – not two weeks ahead or on the 2-5year plan- but for this moment in time, whatever the need is, when you seek Him…He gives you grace sufficient! He does. He pours grace out and even multiplied at times, the same way you pour lemonade from a pitcher into a glass. Yes, the lemons of life, suddenly are mixed with the water of the Spirit of God and the sweet love of Jesus just gets you through that moment in time.
I know. He’s shown me all of this and more. If I only had one more day to live on this earth, I would want the children, young and old to know that He is faithful. He is a friend, He is a very present help in times of trouble, He’s PRESENT – now, here, this moment and the next. He loves.
‘Turn to Jesus’. what does that mean?
It means, talk to the One who is right by your side, right this very minute and knows everything about you, even the number of hairs you had yesterday, and grow in your relationship with Him! Read His Songs in the Psalms and His promises in Isaiah and Jeremiah, and watch Him in action in the Gospels-spend time with the One who LOVES YOU MOST!Get the whole of history in His Story! And spend some time with others that are on this ‘treasure hunt’. You will discover the most amazing treasures!
You will discover that everything you need IS found in Him, moment by moment, step by step. And one more thing,…you will find something you haven’t had for quite some time, because in following Him -instead of leading the way-you have a good view of Him, and having a good view of Jesus, you will have peace.
Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? You will have a peace that doesn’t make sense, even though all the circumstances may stay the same. And when your heart has peace, something else returns that you might have been missing. Joy.
You will be so happy. And so will everyone else that is around you, each and every minute of each and every day!
So, let’s live this day, as if…it were our last!
( I write this 4 years after being diagnosed with cancer. As a survivor, I choose to…follow Jesus. It would bless me so much to know that perhaps my life, that God is allowing me to have today, could draw you to the One who loves you most! much love in Him, Toni Rypkema)