This past week, I had to make a visit to someone’s home out in the country about 5 miles off the highway. Like most times I do this, I look it up online to get an idea of where it is and take a screen shot to reference where roads are. About the time I get close to where it says the house should be, I notice the address signs going the wrong direction, so I turn around and drive back the way I had just gone, and track down the house over a mile back from where the online map said it should be. A little off, but despite wrong directions, we got there. Have you ever been given the wrong map, directions, or ended up somewhere you weren’t sure you were? How did you bet back to where you belong?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Over the past month, you may have heard stories about a coronavirus called covid-19 which has gone from relative obscurity to nearly a pandemic, with infections identified in many countries throughout the world. While some people are taking this relatively lightly, others fear the uncertainty of contracting this virus. With a death rate of around 2-3 percent of those infected, chances are not likely it would end inn death, but there is a chance. Maybe people just fear the possibility of potential death beyond their control. We all engage in things that are potentially harmful or fatal each day as we drive across town, or by eating things without knowing where they came from, there is an inherent danger in almost everything. The threat of death, no matter how small, is usually a wakeup call for most of us. Is there anything that would keep you from going about your normal everyday routines like you always do?
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Based on studies, around 60 percent off the US population don’t have a will or other estate plans made. Maybe we all think we will live forever and just keep putting it off till someday, hoping someday never comes. Is there a list of projects you intend to do sometime when you get around to it…maybe things that are slightly annoying, but not a crucial part of your daily life? I have a whole list of them. Most days we mostly address the urgent things in life, the ones required by our jobs, and the ones that are due, like bills, or things that others are waiting on. How much of the important things in life can we put off? If we knew we only had one week left to live, the things that mattered most to us would suddenly become real urgent and take top priority. Most of the time, we don’t know how much more time we have to kick things down the road. We ought to live each day as if it were our last and trust all the uncertain things to God. The one thing that is certain down the road is that death awaits us. The only thing we don’t know is where and when, but it is there. Are you ready?
Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. Psalm 144:3-4
Yours in Christ,
Clark
