Today’s news is chock-full with articles about the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who passed away at the age of 87. Not only with her passing, but also with any person, young or elderly, one question might often come to mind. The question, what if? What if today were to be the last day of your life, would you change anything? One day…a mere twenty-four-hour period of time. What would occupy that time? Would a hour-and-a-half be spent watching a TV/movie, or even two three-half-hour programs? Would it be another 18-holes of golf? Would it be dashing off to the clothes store to pick up the latest fashion? Or, beginning to read the 300-page book that you’ve been saying you’re going to read? What If?
So many people like to take life as it comes. After all, life just simply happens, what can we do about it? Throughout my years of being involved in the fast-paced world of motorsports from race boats, to drag racing, to motorcycle racing, it would be impossible to count the number of times I have these words spoken after the passing of someone who just crashed their boat, car, or bike. “At least he (or she) died doing they thing he (or she) loved doing!” Oh really! Is that truly what any person would want others last words and memories to be of them? Often they are!
We become so engrossed in life that for many they seldom slow down enough to consider, “where am I going, and where is my life taking me?” Life is short! And when the house is on fire, it’s a little late to be straightening the pictures on the wall! Attention to those details could have been made days and months ago; not that any of that is going to make any difference to the insurance company now.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived on earth wrote these words as recorded in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, There is “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to pluck up what is planted.” Let’s face it, if we all live long enough, we’re all going to die someday. At least unless for the Christian the Rapture takes place before.
We can’t explain it, however, some have shorter lives and some have longer lives. Before we feel bad about those who lives were cut short, it’s good to remember that even those who have had short lives can impact their place in the world. Remember Jesus? At just 33-years of age, He turned the world ‘right-side’ up!
Wherever you are in your life right now, it’s good to stop for a while and ask some questions. Questions such as, “If I were to die today, and be able to look back on my life, what would I see? Would I be happy with the way my life turned out to be for the years I had on earth?” How about this question! “What will the people in my life who knew me the best, now have to say about me now that I’m gone? Would those things be good or bad?” “Did I have any impact on their lives in a positive and eternal way? Or, did I just simply chum around with them at a local car show?”
Then there’s questions such as, “Did I cause hurt to anyone or grief to their life that I should, and could have asked their forgiveness for? Did I forgive others after they spoke against me, or to my face, when I had the opportunity to do?” How about this? “Would the little boy, (or girl) I once was, be proud of the man, (or woman) I grew to be?”
“Did I ask God to forgive me of my sins? Did I ask Him to come into my heart? Did I tell Him that of all things, the one most important thing I want to do is have Him as Number One in my life? Did I consider back then to accept Him as Lord and Savior of my life, and yet knowing, then was then, and now is now, and it’s too late for what ifs!
In the case of the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Chuck Schumer said, “we should honor her dying wish.” And, what was that? “That her seat not be filled until the man who wins the presidential election is installed, in January.” Really!? That was her dying wish!?
I leave you with this thought and two last words. “What if?”
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie