"If I Die Today" 10/31/22

Dear Church,

American theologian Jonathan Edwards made a series of resolutions from a young age.

One of them reads as follows,

"52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723."

Another

"55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723."

Perhaps the one that has struck me the most is #9 "Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death."

Most of us like to avoid the thought of death, but Edward's thought of when and how he might die and he sought to live as though his death was close by.

What about you? What might you say and do if you thought "I could die today?"

I think of the example of Stephen the first Christian martyr, His last words were "Lord, don't hold their sins against them." If that sounds suspiciously similar to Jesus' words on the cross ("Father forgive them"), that's because Stephen knew his Lord. He knew the forgiveness of Christ and he wanted even his enemies to know that same forgiveness.

- If you knew you were about to die, would you forgive someone who hates you?

I think of the last words of Jesus to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:4-8. He told them to go and make disciples ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.

- If tomorrow was your last day, would you be found discipling someone or telling them the good news?

I think of Jesus' last words to the churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2-3. Jesus' spoke a specific word to each church. He encouraged the faithful, challenged the wavering, and confronted the unfaithful.

How would your conversations change if you realized "I might not be around tomorrow"???

I think of Revelation 22:17; the "last call" if you will, of the word of God.

"The Spirit and the Bride say “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wishes receive the water of life without cost."

This is the message we (the Bride) carry with us and proclaim!!

You and I may soon die, so let these words be our invitation to a dying world

In Christ's Service,

Matt

Matthew Deneault Pastor at Christ Community Fellowship "Making Christ known in our Community"